•^j^ptf^au 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


Education 
Library 

L  • 


11X11^1? 


THE  SECRETARY  OF  THE  INTERIOR. 

TRANSMITTING, 

In  response  to  Senate  resolution^  February  15,  report  of  Sheldon  Jackson 
on  education  in  Alaska. 


March  4,  1886. — Referred  to  the  Committee  on  Territories  and  ordered  to  be  printed. 


Department  of  the  Interior, 

Washington,  March  3, 188C. 

Sir:  In  response  to  Senate  resolution  of  the  15tli  ultimo,  I  have  the 
honor  to  transmit  herewith  the  report  of  Sheldon  Jackson  on  education 
in  Alaska. 

Very  respectfully, 

L.  Q.  C.  LAMAR, 

Secretary. 
The  President  pro  tempore  of  the  Senate. 


881919 

\ 


EDUCATION  IN  ALASKA. 


Office  of  General  Agent  of  Education  in  Alaska, 

Sitlcttj  Alaska,  February  1,  1886. 

Sir  :  In  submitting  my  preliminary  report  as  general  agent  of  edu- 
cation in  Alaska,  I  propose  to  take  a  brief  survey  of  the  country,  its 
extent,  physical  characteristics,  climate,  and  people.  In  no  other  way 
can  a  just  estimate  be  formed  of  the  peculiar  difficulties  under  which 
the  school  work  in  Alaska  must  be  conducted.  In  no  other  way  can 
we  be  impressed  with  the  peculiar  needs  of  the  field  to  which  our  sys- 
tem must  be  adapted  in  order  to  secure  the  highest  success. 

Section  13  of  the  organic  act  providing  a  civil  government  for  Alaska 
declares  (see  Appendix  B) — 

Tbat  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  shall  make  needful  and  proper  provision  for  the 
education  of  the  children  of  school  age  in  the  Territory  of  Alaska,  without  reference 
to  race,  until  such  time  as  permanent  provision  shall  be  made  for  the  same,  and  the 
sum  of  $25,000,  or  so  much  thereof  as  may  be  necessary,  is  hereby  appropriated  for 
this  purpose. 

This  contemplates  the  establishment  in  Alaska  of  the  public-school 
system  of  the  States. 

To  inaugurate  such  a  system  in  Dakota  or  Montaua  with  the  assistance 
of  railways  and  stage  lines  is  one  thing  ;  to  do  the  same  thing  in  Alaska^ 
with  its  vast  area,  not  only  without  public  conveyances,  except  a 
monthly  steamer  in  the  southeastern  corner,  but  without  roads  and 
largely  without  any  means  of  transportation  save  the  uncomfortable  log 
canoes  and  skin  bidarkas  of  the  natives,  is  another  and  quite  different 
thing.  And  yet  the  establishment  of  schools  in  Alaska  will  require  tens 
of  thousands  of  miles  of  travel — a  fact  which  becomes  obvious  on  a  care- 
ful survey  of  the  field. 

AREA. 

Very  few  even  of  the  more  intelligent  portion  of  American  citizens 
comprehend  its  extent  and  physical  characteristics. 

To  say  that  Alaska  contains  580,107  square  miles  gives  no  adequate 
conception  of  its  great  size.  That  impression  is  better  secured  by  a 
series  of  relative  comparisons. 

For  instance,  from  extreme  north  to  south  is  1,400  miles  in  an  air  line, 
or  as  far  as  from  Maine  to  Florida ;  and  from  its  eastern  boundary  to 
+he  end  of  the  Aleutian  Islands  is  2,200  miles  in  an  air  line,  or  as  far  as 
•om  Washington  to  California. 

The  island  of  Attu,  at  the  end  of  the  Aleutian  chain,  is  as  far  west 
of  San  Francisco  as  Maine  is  east ;  so  that  between  the  extreme  eastern 
and  western  sections  of  the  United  States  San  Francisco  is  the  great 
central  city. 

5° 


6  EDUCATION   IN    ALASKA. 

Or  take  another  basis  of  comparison  :  Alaska  is  as  large  as  all  the 
Kew  England  and  Middle  States,  together  with  Ohio,  Indiana,  IHinois, 
Wisconsin,  Michigan,  Kentucky,  and  Tennessee  combined,  or  as  large 
as  all  the  United  States  east  of  the  Mississi])pi  Eiver  and  north  of 
Georgia  and  the  Carolinas,  or  nearly  one  sixth  of  the  entire  area  of  the 
United  States.  It  has  a  coast  line  of  18,211  miles,  or  nearly  twice  as 
many  as  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  coast  lines  of  the  remaining  portion 
of  the  United  States.  Commencing  at  the  north  shore  of  Dixon  Inlet, 
in  latitude  54°  40',  the  coast  sweeps  in  a  long  regular  curve  north  and 
west  to  the  entrance  of  Prince  William  Sound,  a  distance  of  550  miles, 
thence  725  miles  south  and  west  to  Unimak  Pass,  at  the  end  of  the 
Aliaska  Peninsula.  From  this  pass  the  Aleutian  chain  of  islands  sweeps 
1,075  miles  in  a  long  curve  almost  to  Asia,  the  dividing  line  between 
Russia  and  the  United  States  being  the  meridian  of  193°  west  longitude. 
North  of  Unimak  Pass  the  coast  forms  a  zigzag  line  to  Point  Barrow, 
on  the  Arctic  Ocean,  and  thence  south  of  east  to  the  boundary. 

ISLANDS. 

Alaska  is  a  great  island  region,  having  off  its  southeastern  coast  a 
large  archipelago.  The  732  miles  of  latitude  from  Puget  Sound  to  the 
head  of  Lynn  Canal  contain  a  remarkable  stretch  of  inland  ocean  navi- 
gation, noted  for  its  bold  shores,  deep  water,  numerous  channels,  in- 
numerable bays  and  harbors,  abundance  of  fuel  and  frt  sh  water,  and 
shelter  from  the  swells  of  the  ocean. 

The  southern  portion  of  this  great  archipelago  is  in  Washington  Ter- 
ritory, the  central  portion  in  British  Columbia,  and  the  uorthern  por- 
tion in  Alaska.  The  portion  in  Alaska  has  been  named  the  Alexander 
Archipelago.  It  is  about  300  miles  north  and  south  and  80  miles  wide, 
and  is  variously  estimated  to  contain  from  1,000  to  5,000  separate  islands, 
1,100  of  which  have  been  marked  on  the  charts.  The  aggregate  area 
of  these  islands  is  14,142  square  miles. 

Six  hundred  miles  to  the  westward  is  the  Kadiak  grouj),  aggregating 
an  area  of  5,670  miles ;  then  the  Shumagin  group,  containing  1,031 
square  miles ;  and  the  Aleutian  chain,  with  an  area  of  6,391  square 
miles.  To  the  northward  is  the  Pribiloft"  group  (Seal  Islands),  contain- 
ing, with  the  other  islands  in  Bering  Sea,  3,963  square  miles. 

The  total  area  of  the  islands  of  Alaska  is  31,205  square  miles,  which 
would  make  a  State  as  large  as  the  great  State  of  Maine. 

MOUNTAINS  AND   VOLCANOES. 

Alaska  is  the  region  of  the  highest  mountain  peaks  in  the  United 
States.  The  Coast  Range  of  California  and  the  Rocky  Mountain  Range 
of  Colorado  and  Montana  unite  to  form  the  Alaskan  Mountains.  This 
range,  instead  of  continuing  northward  to  the  Arctic  Ocean,  as  the  old 
atlases  represent,  turns  to  the  southward,  at  the  upi)er  Ramparts  of 
the  Yukon,  extends  through  and  forms  the  Aliaska  Peninsula,  and 
then  gradually  sinks  into  the  Pacific  Ocean,  leaving  only  the  highest 
peaks  visible  above  the  water.  These  peaks  form  the  Aleutian  chain 
of  islands.  The  islands  decrease  in  size,  height,  and  frequency,  as  the 
mountain  range  sinks  lower  into  the  ocean.  Unimak,  the  most  eastern 
of  the  chain,  has  that  magnificent  volcano  Shishaldiu,  9,000  feet  high  ; 
then  Unalashka,  5,091  feet;  next  Atka,  4,852  feet;  then  Kyska,  3,700 
feet;  and  Attn,  the  most  western  of  the  group,  only  3,084  feet  high. 

In  the  Aliaskan  Range  are  the  highest  i)eaks  in  the  United  States  : 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  7 

Mount  Saint  Elias,  19,500  feet  high;  Mount  Oook,  16,000  feet;  Mount 
Crillon,  15,900 ;  Mount  Fairweatber,  15,500 ;  and  numerous  others.  In 
addition  to  the  Aliaskan  Range  are  the  Shaktolik  and  Uhikuk  Hills, 
near  Norton  Sound;  the  Yukon  and  Roraantzoff  Hills,  north  of  the 
Yukon  River ;  the  Kaiyuh  and  Nowikakat  Mountains,  east  and  south  of 
the  river,  and  a  low  range  of  hills  bordering  the  Arctic  coast.  ^ 

Alaska  contains  the  great  volcanic  system  of  the  United  States. 
Grewiugk  enumerates  61  volcanoes,  mainly  on  the  Aliaskan  Peninsula 
and  Aleutian  Islands,  that  have  been  active  since  the  settlement  by 
Europeans. 

GLACIERS. 

It  is  the  great  glacial  region.  From  Bute  Inlet  to  Unimak  Pass 
nearly  every  deep  gulch  has  its  glacier,  some  of  which  are  vastly  greater 
and  grander  than  any  glacier  of  the  Alps. 

On  Lynn  Canal  is  a  glacier  computed  to  be  1,200  feet  thick  at  the 
"snout  "or  lower  projection.  In  one  of  the  gulches  of  Mount  Fair- 
weather  is  a  glacier  that  extends  50  miles  to  the  sea,  where  it  ends  ab- 
ruptly in  a  perpendicular  ice  wall  300  feet  high  and  8  miles  broad. 
Thirty-five  miles  above  Wrangell,  on  the  Stikine  River,  between  two 
mountains  o,000  feet  high,  is  an  immense  glacier  40  miles  long  and  at 
the  base  4  to  5  miles  across,  and  variously  estimated  from  500  to  1,000 
feet  high  or  deep.  On  Glacier  Bay,  Muir  Glacier  presents  a  wall  of  ice 
500  feet  in  thickness,  with  a  varying  breadth  of  from  3  to  10  miles,  and 
an  estimated  length  of  40  miles.  Great  blocks  containing  hundreds  of 
tons  of  ice  are  constantly  breaking  off  and  falling  into  the  sea. 

SPRINGrS. 

Alaska  abounds  in  hot  and  mineral  springs.  The  large  ones,  a  few 
miles  south  of  Sitka,  have  long  been  noted  for  their  curative  qualities. 
In  1860  the  Russian-American  Company  erected  at  them  a  hospital, 
which  was  much  patronized.  The  buildings  have,  since  the  American 
occupation,  been  destroyed.  Dall  reports  springs  on  Perenosna  Bay,  on 
Araagat  Island,  and  Port  Moller.  On  Unimak  Island  is  a  lake  of  sul- 
phur. Near  the  volcano  Pogrumnoi  are  hot  marshes.  Boiling  springs 
are  found  on  the  islands  Akhun,  Atka,  Unimak,  Adakh,  Sitiguak,  and 
Kanaga.  These  latter  have  for  ages  been  used  by  the  natives  for  cook- 
ing food.  In  the  crater  of  Goreloi  is  a  vast  boiling,  steaming  mineral 
spring  18  miles  in  circumference.  A  lake  strongly  impregnated  with 
niter  is  found  on  Beaver  Island.  The  thermal  springs  on  the  island  of 
Unalashka  hold  sulphur  in  solution. 

AURORA  BOREALIS. 

The  Territory  is  famous  for  its  beautiful  auroral  displays. 

RIVERS. 

Alaska  contains  one  of  the  largest  rivers  in  the  United  States.  The 
river  Yukon  is  70  miles  wide  across  its  five  mouths  and  intervening 
deltas.  At  some  points  along  its  lower  course  one  bank  cannot  be  seen 
from  the  other.  For  the  first  1,000  miles  it  is  from  1  to  5  miles  wide, 
and  in  some  places,  including  islands,  it  is  20  miles  from  main  bank  to 
main  bank.    Navigable  for  2,000  miles,  it  is  computed  to  be  from  2,000 


8  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

to  3,000  miles  long.*  During  1883  Lieat.  F.  Schwatka,  crossing  from 
Lynn  Canal  in  Southeastern  Alaska  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Yukon 
River,  made  a  raft  voyage  of  exploration  down  the  stream. 

The  other  principal  rivers  of  the  Territory  are  the  Stikine,  250  miles 
long ;  the  Chilkat ;  the  Copper  (explored  in  1885  by  Lieutenant  Allen) ; 
the  Nushagak,  a  large,  shallow  stream  150  miles  long;  the  Kuskokwim, 
between  500  and  GOO  miles  long;  the  Tananah,  2  miles  wide  at  its  junc- 
tion with  the  Yukon;  the  Porcupine;  the  Nowikakat,  112  miles;  and 
the  Koyoukuk.     The  last  four  are  tributaries  of  the  Yukon. 

Then  we  tind  the  Nuuatok  emptying  into  Hotham  Inlet,  Kotzebue 
Sound.  During  1885  Engineer  McLenegan,  of  the  Revenue  Marine 
steamship  Corwiu,  ascended  this  river  in  a  canoe  400  miles  and  found 
it  flowing  through  grand  scenery,  some  of  the  canons  being  for  miles 
through  precipitous  rocks  1,000  feet  high ;  theKoowak,  or  Putnam  River, 
also  flowing  to  Hotham  Inlet.  This  stream  was  first  visited  by  Lieut. 
George  M.  Stoney  in  1883.  In  1884  he  ascended  the  river  over  400 
miles;  the  Colville,  for  a  longtime  supposed  to  be  the  outlet  of  the 
Yukon ;  and  the  Meade,  explored  by  Lieut.  P.  H.  Ray  in  the  spring  of 
1883. 

The  latter  two  rivers  discharge  into  the  Arctic  Ocean. 

CLIMATE. 

In  a  countr}^  as  extended  as  Alaska,  with  its  large  rolling  plains, 
wide  valleys,  and  high  mountains,  there  is  necessarily  a  wide  diversity 
of  climate.  In  a  general  way  it  may  be  said  that  inland  Alaska  has  an 
Arctic  winter  and  a  tropical  summer.  At  Fort  Yukon  the  thermometer 
often  rises  above  100°  in  summer,  and  indicates  from  50°  to  70°  below 
zero  in  winter.  At  Nulato,  on  the  Yukon  River,  the  fall  of  snow  during 
the  winter  averages  8  feet  and  frequently  reaches  12  feet.  Along  the 
immense  southern  coast  and  islands  the  climate  is  moist  and  warm. 

The  greatest  cold  recorded  on  the  island  of  Unalashka,  by  a  Greek 
priest,  during  a  period  of  five  years,  was  zero  of  Fahrenheit ;  extremest 
heat  for  the  same  time  was  77°.  The  average  for  five  years,  at  7  a.  m., 
was  37°;  1  p.  m.,  4U°;  and  9  p.  m.,  36°.  The  average  of  weather  for 
seven  years  was  53  all  clear  days,  1,263  half  clear,  and  1,235  all  cloudy. 
It  is  very  much  the  climate  of  Northwestern  Scotland. 

At  Saint  Paul  Harbor,  Kadiak  Island,  the  mean  annual  summer  tem- 
perature is  54°  and  winter  29° ;  the  coldest  month^  February,  with  the 
thermometer  at  27°;  and  the  warmest,  July  and  August,  with  a  mean 
temperature  of  57°,  the  extremes  being  6°  and  75°.  The  climate  is 
that  of  Southern  Sweden  and  Norway.  The  annual  rainfall  is  about  73 
inches. 

At  Sitka,  where,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  short  gaps,  a  record  of 
the  thermometer  has  been  kept  for  forty-five  years,  it  has  been  found 
that  the  mean  spring  temperature  was  41.2°;  summer,  54.6°;  autumn, 
44.9°;  winter,  32.5° ;  and  for  the  entire  year,  43.3°. 

*  Mr.  Robert  Campbell,  for  mauy  years  a  factor  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Fur  Company, 
in  a  letter  to  Hon.  M.  C.  Butler,  United  States  Senate,  represents  the  Yukon  and  its 
tributary  Pelly  as  navifjable  at  certain  seasons  nearly  3,000  miles.  Mr.  Campbell 
says:  "  In  the  spring  of  1840,  I  crossed  the  mountains  and  came  on  the  headwaters 
of  a  magnificent  stream,  which  I  named  the  Pelly  River.  In  1850  I  received  per- 
mission to  explore  the  Pelly  down  to  its  mouth,  in  due  time  reaching  Fort  Yukon, 
setting  the  question  at  rest  that  the  Pelly  and  Yukon  were  one  and  the  same  river. 
Three  kinds  of  salmon  ascend  the  river  as  far  as  Pelly  Banks,  which  is  about  3,000  miles 
from  the  sea-coast.  When  in  full  freshet  flow  in  summer,  steamers  could  ascend  to 
within  30  miles  of  Pellv  Banks." 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  9 

The  greatest  degree  of  heat  recorded  iu  these  forty-five  years  was 
87.8°,  and  of  cold  4°  below  zero.  The  thermometer  has  recorded  below 
zero  during  only  four  of  the  forty-five  years,  and  above  80°  during  only 
seven  of  those  years.  The  mean  annual  temperature  for  forty-five  years 
has  ranged  from  41.3°  to  46.8°,  a  difference  of  but  5.5°.  The  annual 
rainfall  was  81  inches.  During  a  period  of  forty-three  years  there  has 
been  an  average  of  200  rainy  or  snowy  days  a  year,  the  most  favorable 
year  being  1883,  with  82  rainy  and  32  snowy  days,  and  the  most  un- 
favorable 185G,  with  258  rainy  and  27  snowy  clays. 

From  these  facts,  taken  from  the  Alaska  Coast  Pilot,  Appendix'l, 
Meteorology,  A.  D.  1880,  the  surprising  fact  is  brought  to  light  that  the 
winter  climate  of  Southeastern  Alaska  for  forty-five  years  past  has  been 
the  average  winter  climate  of  Kentucky  and  West  Virginia,  and  the 
average  summer  climate  of  Minnesota.  During  the  past  year,  closing- 
August  31,  1885,  at  Sitka,  the  signal  officer  reports  that  there  were 
"94  clear  days,  95  fair,  206  cloudy,  and  220  rainy  or  melting  snow." 
Coldest  day  December  1,  1884,  at  14.6°,  and  warmest  dav  Mav  6,  1885, 
at  79.5°. 

This  mild  climate  of  Southern  Alaska  is  due  to  the  warm  Japan  cur- 
rent of  the  Pacific,  the  KuroSiwo,  which  first  strikes  the  American  con- 
tinent at  the  Queen  Charlotte  Islands,  in  latitude  59  north.  Here  the 
stream  divides,  one  jjortion  going  northward  and  westward  along  the 
coast  of  Alaska,  and  the  other  southward  along  the  coast  of  British 
Columbia,  Washington,  Oregon,  and  California,  giving  them  their  mild 
winter  climate. 

The  former  stream  flowing  northward  has  been  named  the  "Alaska 
current,"  and  gives  the  great  southern  coast  of  Alaska  a  winter  climate 
as  mild  as  that  of  one-third  of  the  United  States. 

The  physical  configuration  of  Alaska  naturally  divides  it  into  three 
districts:  the  Yukon,  extending  from  the  Aliaskau  range  of  mountains 
to  the  Arctic  Ocean ;  the  Aleutian,  embracing  the  Aliaska  Peninsula 
west  of  the  one  hundred  and  fifty-fifth  degree  of  longitude  and  the 
Aleutian  Islands;  and  the  Sitkan,  including  Southeastern  Alaska. 

Concerning  the  Yukon  district  but  little  is  known  except  of  the  coast 
and  along  the  Yukon  River. 

The  Coast  Pilot,  a  publication  of  the  United  States  Coast  and  Geo- 
detic Survey,  represents  the  country  between  Norton  Sound  and  the 
Arctic  Ocean  as  a  "vast  moorland,  whose  level  is  only  interrupted  by 
promontories  and  isolated  mountains,  with  numerous  lakes,  bogs,  and 
peat  beds.  Wherever  drainage  exists,  the  ground  is  covered  with  a 
luxuriant  herbage  and  produces  the  rarest  as  well  as  the  most  beauti- 
ful plants.  The  aspect  of  some  of  these  spots  is  very  gay.  Many 
flowers  are  large,  their  colors  bright,  and  though  white  and  yellow  pre- 
dominate, other  tints  are  not  uncommon.  Summer  sets  iu  most  rapidly 
in  May,  and  the  landscape  is  quickly  overspread  with  a  lively  green." 

The  extreme  heat  and  constant  sunshine  cause  it  to  produce  rank 
vegetation.  The  commercial  value  of  this  section  is  mainly  in  its  furs. 
During  the  past  three  seasons  small  parties  of  prospectors  have  pene- 
trated into  that  region  in  search  of  gold. 

The  Aleutian  district  is  largely  mountainous  and  of  volcanic  forma- 
tion. Between  the  mountains  and  the  sea  are,  however,  many  natural 
prairies,  with  a  rich  soil  of  vegetable  mold  and  claj',  covered  with 
perennial  wild  grasses. 

This  district,  except  at  the  eastern  end,  is  without  timber  larger  than 
a  shrub.  The  principal  resource  at  present  is  in  the  wonderful  fisheries 
off  its  coast. 


10  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

The  Sitkaii  district  is  mountainous  in  the  extreme,  and  the  larger 
portion  covered  with  dense  forest.  The  great  wealth  of  this  district  is 
in  its  lumber,  tish,  and  minerals.  Many  garden  vegetables  are  raised 
with  success.  In  this  district  is  situated  the  mining  camj)  of  Juneau, 
-where  the  now  famous  Treadweli  mine  is  yielding  from  $50,000  to  $75,000 
in  gold  bullion  per  month. 

With  regard  to  Alaska,  Mr.  William  H.  Dall,  of  the  Smithsonian  In- 
stitution, writes,  after  a  trip  to  Europe: 

7"  I  coiue  back  couvinced,  from  personal  inspection,  that  Alaska  is  a  far  better  country 
than  much  of  Great  Britain  and  Norway,  or  even  part  of  Prussia. 

POPULATION. 

Scattered  over  this  vast  north  land,  in  clusters  of  small  settlements, 
is  a  small  population  composed  ai)proximately  of  17,617  Innuit,  or  Es- 
kimo, 2,145  Aleuts,  1,756  Creoles,*  5,100  Tinneh,  6,437  Thlingets,  788 
Bydah,  and  2,000  whites,  making  a  total  of  35,843. 

NOT   INDIANS. 

And  this  native  population,  with  perhaps  the  exception  of  the  Tinneh, 
is  not  Indian.  Because  many  of  them  are  uncivilized,  popular  opinion, 
without  giving  the  matter  due  consideration,  has  frequently  classed 
them  as  Indians.  This  is  a  mistake.  The  United  States  district  court 
for  Alaska  has  affirmed  that  they  are  not  Indians — that  they  can  sue 
and  be  sued,  make  contracts,  go  and  come  at  pleasure,  and  do  whatever 
any  other  person  can  do  lawfully. 

Hon.  A.  P.  Swineford,  governor  of  Alaska,  in  his  annual  report  to 
the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  (1885),  says: 

The  native  Alaskans,  as  a  rule,  are  industrious  and  provident,  living  in  permanent 
and  substantial  homes,  and  all  are  self-sustaining.  These  people,  it  should  he  under- 
stood, are  not  Indians.  Their  appearance,  habits,  language,  complexion,  and  even  their 
anatomy,  mark. them  as  a  race  wholly  different  and  distinct  from  the  Indian  tribes 
inhabiting  other  portions  of  the  United  States.  They  are  far  superior  intellectually, 
if  not  in  physical  development,  to  the  Indian  of  the  plains;  are  industrious,  more 
or  less  skillful  workers  in  woods  and  metals  ;  and  that  they  are  shrewd,  sharp  traders, 
all  who  have  had  dealings  with  them  will,  I  think,  be  willing  to  testify.  They  yield 
readily  to  civilizing  influences,  and  can,  with  much  less  care  than  has  been  bestowed 
upon  native  tribes  elsewhere,  be  educated  up  to  the  standard  of  good  and  intelligent 
citizenship.  Just  in  proportion  to  their  educational  progress  they  should  have  the 
rights  au«l  privileges  conferred  and  the  duties  and  penalties  of  full  citizenship  im- 
posed upon  them.     (See  Ajipeudix,  Paper  F.) 

As  long  ago  as  March  14,  1872,  the  Hon.  F.  A.  Walker,  Commissioner 
of  Indian  Affairs,  in  an  official  communication  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Interior  concerning  these  people,  says: 

For  my.self,  I  have  never  believed  that  the  natives  of  Alaska  were  Indians  within 
the  meaning  of  the  Constitution  any  more  than  are  Esquimaux  or  Kanakas,  and  I  am 
disposed  to  avoid  entirely  the  use  of  the  word  "Indian"  as  applied  to  them.  The  bal- 
ance of  prol>abilities  seems  to  me  to  incline  toward  an  Asiatic  origin,  at  least  so  far 
as  the  inhabitants  of  the  coast  and  the  islands  are  concerned.  The  inference  from 
their  geographical  position,  strong  as  it  may  be,  is  hardly  so  strong  as  the  inference 
from  their  singular  mimetic  gifts  and  the  high  degree  of  mechanical  dexterity  which 
they  are  capable  of  attaining.  These  are  qualities  characteristic  of  the  Oriental,  and 
they  are  precisely  the  qualities  in  which  the  North  American  Indian  is  most  deficient. 
But  without  attempting  to  establish  their  connection  with  the  Chinese  or  Japanese, 
or  to  trace  their  descent  from  the  lost  tribes,  it  is  sufficient  for  the  purposes  of  this 
report  if  it  be  shown  that  the  Department  is  not  concluded  by  any  irresistible  se- 
quence to  treat  the  natives  of  Alaska  as  Indians  within  the  intentioin  of  the  law  or- 
ganizing the  Indian  Office. 

'Descendants  of  Russian  fathers  and  native  mothers.  So  called  in  the  United 
States  census  report  for  1830. 


H6LIOTYP6     PRINTiNG     CO.     BOS 


A  TYPICAL    ESKIMO   MAN,   TOGIAK    RIVER,   ALASKA. 
Pifotographed  by  Messrs.  Hartmann  &    Weinland. 


EDUCATION    I\    ALASKA.  11 

Tliat  it  is  uudesirable  to  do  so  appears  to  nie  plain.  The  iJrovision  of  the  Consti- 
tiitioa  excliitliiig  ludians  from  tb«  political  body  is  so  far  invidious  and  opposed  to 
the  general  spirit  of  that  instrument,  and  more  especially  to  the  spirit  of  the  recent 
amendments  th(!reto,  that  it  should  he  construed  strictly,  not  extending  unnecessarily 
to  races  of  a  questionable  ethnical  type  and  occupying  a  position  practically  distinct 
a.nd  apart  from  the  range  of  the  undoubted  Indian  tribes  of  the  continent.  (Report 
of  Board  of  Indian  Commissioners,  lb72,  p.  134.) 

The  Government  has  never  treated  them  as  Indians,  and  it  would  be 
a  national  calamity  at  this  late  day  to  subject  them  to  the  restrictions 
and  disabilities  of  our  Indian  system. 

Among  those  best  known  their  highest  ambition  is  to  build  American 
homes,  possess  American  furniture,  dress  in  American  clothes,  adopt 
the  American  style  of  living,  and  be  American  citizens. 

They  ask  no  special  favors  from  the  American  Government,  no  annui- 
ties or  help,  but  simply  to  be  treated  as  other  citizens,  protected  by  the 
laws  and  courts,  and  in  common  with  all  others  furnished  with  schools 
for  their  children. 

THE   PEOPLE  AND   THETR   VILLAGES.* 

The  Innuit. 

The  Innuit  occupy  almost  the  entire  coast  line  of  Alaska  with  the  out- 
lying islands,  from  the  boundary  line  westward  along  the  Arctic  coast 
.  to  Bering  Strait;  thence  southward  to  the  Aliaska  Peninsula,  over  the 
peninsula  and  the  Aleutian  Islands,  and  eastward  and  northward  along 
the  coast  to  Mount  Saint  Elias,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  territory 
on  Cook's  Inlet  and  at  the  month  of  Copper  Eiver,  where  the  Tinneh 
from  the  interior  have  forced  their  way  to  the  coast.  Occupying  the 
coast  line,  they  are  bold  navigators  and  skilled  fishermen  and  sea  hunters. 

The  term  "Innuit"  is  the  native  word  for  "people"  and  is  the  name 
used  by  themselves,  signifying  "our  people."  The  terra  "Eskimo"  is 
one  of  reproach  given  them  by  their  neighbors,  meaning  "raw-fish 
eaters."  The  Innuit  of  Alaska  are  a  much  finer  race  physically  than 
their  brethren  of  Greenland  and  Labrador.  They  are  tall  and  muscu- 
lar, many  of  them  being  6  feet  and  over  in  height.  They  have  small 
black  eyes,  high  cheek  bones,  large  mouths,  thick  lips,  coarse  brown 
hair,  and  fresh  yellow  complexion.  In  many  instances  the  men  have 
full  beards  and  moustaches.  In  some  families  the  men  wear  a  labret 
under  each  corner  of  the  mouth  in  a  hole  cut  through  the  lower  lip  for 
the  purpose. 

They  are  a  good-natured  people,  always  smiling  when  spoken  to. 
They  are  fond  of  dancing,  running,  jumping,  and  all  athletic  sports. 
While  they  speak  a  common  language  from  the  Arctic  to  the  Pacific, 
each  locality  has  its  different  dialect. 

Their  usual  dress  is  the  parkas,'  made  of  the  skins  of  animals  and 
sometimes  of  the  breasts  of  birds.  However,  where  they  have  access 
to  the  stores  of  traders  they  buy  ready-jnade  clothing. 

Their  residences  have  the  outward  appearance  of  a  circular  mound 
of  earth  covered  with  grass,  with  a  small  opening  at  the  top  for  the  es- 
cape of  smoke.  The  entrance  is  a  small  door  and  narrow  hallway  to 
the  main  room,  which  is  from  12  to  20  feet  in  diameter  and  is  without 
light  or  ventilation. 

'The  account  of  the  people  and  their  villages  in  Western  Alaska  is  largely  drawn 
from  Petrotfs  Report  of  Population  of  Alaska,  United  States  census  of  1880. 


12  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

Their  diet  consists  of  the  wild  meat  of  the  moose,  reindeer,  bear,  and 
smaller  fur-bearing  animals;  also  of  fish,  the  white  whale,  the  walrus, 
seal,  and  various  water-fowl.  ]n  the  northern  section  they  have  a  great 
aversion  to  salt.  While  they  will  eat  with  great  relish  decayed  fish  or 
putrid  oil,  they  will  spit  out  with  a  wry  face  a  mouthful  of  choice  corned 
iDeef. 

Men,  women,  and  children  are  alike  inveterate  smokers. 

While  they  travel  continually  in  the  summer,  they  have  permanent 
winter  homes. 

Their  religious  belief  is  quite  indefinite.  In  a  general  way  they  be- 
lieve in  a  power  that  rewards  the  good  and  punishes  the  bad,  by  send- 
ing them  to  diiferent  places  after  death.  They  are  savages,  and,  with 
the  exception  of  those  in  Southern  Alaska,  have  not  had  civilizing, 
educational,  or  religious  advantages. 

From  the  boundary  line  to  Bering  Strait,  along  the  bleak  Arctic 
coast,  villages  are  placed  here  and  there,  wherever  there  is  a  sheltered 
harbor  with  good  hunting  or  fishing.  The  population  of  these  aggre- 
gates 3,000. 

At  the  mouth  of  the  Colville  Eiver  they  hold  an  annual  fair,  to  which 
they  come  from  hundreds  of  miles. 

At  Point  Barrow,  the  extreme  northern  point  of  land  in  the  United 
States,  and  within  25  miles  of  being  the  northernmost  land  on  the  con- 
tinent, there  is  a  village  (Nuwuk)  of  31  families  and  150  people.  They 
inhabit  houses  or  tupecs  that  are  built  partly  under  ground  for  warmth.. 
The  upper  portion  is  roofed  over  with  dirt,  sui)ported  by  rafters  of  whale 
jaws  and  ribs. 

Around  Kotzebue  Sound  are  a  number  of  villages.  Some  of  the  hills 
surrounding  this  sound  rise  to  the  height  of  a  thousand  feet,  and  are 
covered  with  a  species  of  wild  cotton,  that  in  its  season  gives  the  ap- 
pearance of  snow. 

Into  this  sound  empty  the  Nunatok  and  Koowak  Eivers,  both  large 
streams.  This  is  one  of  the  ijlaces  where  the  people  come  in  July  from 
all  sections  of  the  country  for  the  purpose  of  trade  and  barter.  The 
Innuit  of  the  coast  bring  their  oil,  walrus  hides,  and  seal  skins;  the 
Tinneh  from  the  interior  their  furs ;  and  the  Chuckchees  from  Asia  their 
reindeer-skins,  fire-arms,  and  whisky. 

It  is  to  these  gatherings  that  the  traders  come  in  schooners  fitted  out 
at  San  Francisco  or  Sandwich  Islands  with  cargoes  of  w^hisky  labeled 
"Florida  water,"  "Bay  rum,"  "Pain-killer,"  "Jamaica  ginger,"  &c.  The 
finest  furs  of  Alaska  are  obtained  at  these  fairs.  Salmon  are  plentiful 
in  Kotzebue  Sound. 

Another  center  of  villages  is  at  Cape  Prince  of  Wales.  This  is  a 
rocky  point,  rising  in  its  highest  peak  to  an  elevation  of  2,500  feet 
above  the  sea.  At  the  extremity  of  this  cape  is  a  village  of  400  people, 
the  westernmost  village  on  the  mainland  in  America.  These  people  are 
great  traders  and  travelers,  skilled  in  hunting  the  whale  on  the  seas  or 
the  reindeer  on  the  land.  They  are  insolent  and  overbearing  toward 
the  surrounding  tribes,  and,  traveling  in  large  companies,  compel  trade 
at  their  own  terms.     They  are  reported  the  worst  natives  on  the  coast. 

In  the  narrow  strait  separating  Asia  from  America  is  a  small  group 
of  islands  called  the  Diomede.  On  these  islands  are  three  hundred  In- 
nuit. 

These,  with  those  at  Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  are  the  great  smugglers 
of  the  north.  Launching  their  walrus-skin  boats  (bidarkas)  they  boldly 
cross  to  and  fro  from  Siberia,  trading  the  deer-skins,  sinew,  andVooden 


EDUCATION   IN   ALASKA,  13 

ware  of  Alaska  for  the  walrus,  ivory,  skius  of  tame  reindeer,  and  whale 
blubber  of  Siberia,  also  fire-arms  and  whisky. 

On  King's  Island,  south  of  Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  are  the  cave  dwell- 
ers of  the  present.  The  island  is  a  great  mass  of  basalt  rock,  with 
almost  perpendicular  sides,  rising  out  of  the  ocean  to  the  height  of  700 
feet.  On  one  side,  where  the  rock  rises  at  an  angle  of  45  degrees,  the 
Innuit  have  excavated  homes  in  the  rock.  Some  of  these  rock  houses 
are  200  feet  above  the  ocean.     There  are  40  of  these  cliff  dwellings. 

When  the  surf  is  wildly  breaking  on  the  rocks,  if  it  becomes  neces- 
sary for  any  one  to  put  out  to  sea,  he  gets  as  near  the  surf  as  possible, 
takes  his  seat  in  his  boat  (kyack),  and  at  the  opportune  moment  two 
companions  toss  him  and  his  boat  over  and  clear  of  the  surf.  They  are 
noted  for  the  manufacture  of  water-proof  boots  from  the  skiu  of  the 
throat  of  the  seal.  They  are  lighter,  more  enduring,  and  greatly  pre- 
ferred to  rubber. 

Directly  south  of  Bering  Strait  is  the  large  island  of  Saint  Lawrence. 
Formerly  it  had  a  population  of  800.  They  were  the  largest  and  finest 
formed  people  of  the  Innuit  race,  but  slaves  to  whisky. 

In  the  summer  of  1878  they  bartered  their  furs,  ivory,  and  whalebone 
to  the  traders  for  rum,  and  as  long  as  the  rum  lasted  they  spent  their 
summer  in  idleness  and  drunkenness  instead  of  preparing  for  winter. 
The  result  was  that  over  400  of  them  starved  to  death  the  next  winter. 
In  some  villages  not  a  single  man,  woman,  or  child  was  left  to  tell  the 
horrible  tale. 

From  Bering  Strait  around  the  shores  of  Norton  Sound  are  a  number 
of  villages,  aggregating  a  population  of  633. 

In  this  district  is  Saint  Michael,  a  trading  post,  originally  founded  by 
the  Eussians  in  1835.  The  place  consists  of  a  few  log  houses,  inclosed 
by  a  stockade,  the  property  of  the  Alaska  Commercial  Company,  and  a 
chapel  of  the  Russo  Greek  Church,  with  an  occasional  service  by  a  priest 
from  Ikogmute.  This  is  the  point  where  the  ocean-going  steamers 
transfer  freight  with  the  small  steamers  that  ply  on  the  Yukon  River. 
To  this  point  the  furs  collected  at  the  trading  posts  in  the  interior,  some 
of  them  2,000  miles  distant,  are  brought  for  reshipment  to  San  Fran- 
cisco. This  is  also  the  dividing  line  between  the  Innuit  of  the  Arctic 
and  the  Pacific.  Half  a  mile  from  the  trading  post  is  a  native  village 
of  30  houses  and  one  dance-house,  or  town  hall. 

We  come  now  to  the  region  of  the  densest  population  in  Alaska,  at- 
tracted and  sustained  by  the  abundance  of  fish  that  ascend  the  mighty 
Yukon  and  Kuskokwim  Rivers  and  the  many  smaller  streams. 

Their  fish  diet  is  supplemented  by  the  wonderful  bird  life  of  the 
country.  The  variety  and  numbers  of  wild  geese  and  ducks  is  said  to 
be  greater  than  in  any  other  section  of  the  known  world.  To  fish  and 
fowl  is  added  the  flesh  of  the  moose  and  reindeer. 

On  the  delta  of  the  Yukon  and  southward  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kus- 
kokwim River  are  from  40  to  50  villages,  with  a  population  of  2,000. 
From  the  mouth  of  the  Yukon  to  Anvik  are  15  or  10  villages,  with  1,345 
people;  while  on  the  Kuskokwim  River  are  some  40  villages,  aggregat- 
ing a  population  of  3,054. 

On  the  lower  banks  of  this  river  the  high  land,  free  from  tidal  over- 
flow, is  so  fully  occupied  with  houses  that  it  is  difficult  for  the  traveler 
to  find  space  to  pitch  a  tent. 

In  the  adjacent  Bristol  Bay  region  are  34  villages  and  4,340  people. 
A  short  portage  across  the  Aliaska  Peninsula  brings  us  to  the  settle- 
ments of  the  civilized  Innuit. 

In  1784,  Gregory  Shelikoff  formed  a  settlement  on  Kadiak  Island  and 


14  -EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

commeDced  the  subjugation  aud  civilization  of  the  people.  Soon  after 
he  organized  a  school,  which  was  the  first  in  Alaska.  Also  the  first 
church  building  in  Alaska  was  erected  on  this  island.  For  a  long  time 
it  was  the  Eussian  capital,  the  chief  seat  of  their  power  and  operations. 
The  present  village  of  Kadiak  (Saint  Paul)  numbers  288  people,  living 
in  101  frame  houses.  They  have  a  few  cattle,  and  cultivate  small  gardens. 
They  have  a  large  church  and  a  resident  priest ;  also  stores  of  the  Alaska 
Commercial  Company,  a  deputy  collector  of  customs,  and  a  signal 
weather  office.  A  small  school  is  kept  at  the  expense  of  the  Alaska 
Commercial  Company. 

Opposite  Kadiak  is  Wood  Island,  with  157  people.  They  have  4 
horses  and  20  cattle.  The  village  also  possesses  a  small  ship-yard,  and 
a  road  around  the  island  12  or  14  miles  long.  This  and  a  road  li  miles 
long  at  Sitka  are  the  only  roads  in  that  vast  Territory.  The  place  pos- 
sesses the  usual  Eusso  Greek  church,  but  no  school. 

Kear  by  is  Spruce  Island,  where  a  Eussian  monk  kept  a  small  school 
for  30  consecutive  years,  giving  instruction  in  tlie  rudimeutal  arts  and 
agricultural  industries.  The  school  is  now  discontinued  for  want  of  a 
teacher. 

Near  by  are  the  two  villages  of  Afognak,  with  a  population  of  339. 
These  reside  in  32  good  frame  and  log  buildings,  aud  cultivate  100  acres 
in  potatoes  aud  turnips.  They  have  a  large  church,  and  ought  to  have 
a  school. 

On  the  western  side  of  Kadiak  is  Karluk,  with  302  people,  having  a 
church  but  no  school. 

On  the  southeastern  coast  is  Old  Harbor. with  160,  Orlova  with  147, 
and  Katmai  with  218  people.  Each  of  these  villages  possesses  a  church, 
but  no  school. 

In  the  Kadiak  district  are  3,128  civilized  Innuit,  or  Eskimo,  and  Cre- 
oles, and  34  whites. 

The  Jnuuit  and  Creoles  are  a  well-to-do,  industrious  population,  liv- 
ing in  frame  houses  provided  with  the  simpler  furnishings  of  civiliza- 
tion, and  on  Sabbath  and  festal  occasions  the  men  dress  in  broadcloth 
suits  and  calf-skin  boots,  the  women  in  calico  and  silk  dresses  modeled 
after  the  fashion  plates  received  from  San  Francisco.  They  are  an  or- 
deiij',  law-abiding  people. 

Aleuts  and  Creoles. 

From  the  Innuit  we  pass  to  the  consideration  of  the  Aleuts.  The 
origin  of  the  word  "Aleut"  is  not  known.  Their  own  designation  of 
themselves  is  "Unung-un,"  the  native  word  for  "our  people." 

They  occupy  the  Aleutian  chain  of  islands  and  portions  of  the  Aliaska 
Peninsula,  from  the  Shumagin  Islands  1,050  miles  westward  to  Attn. 

The  average  height  of  the  men  is  about  5  feet  6  inches.  They  have 
coarse  black  hair,  small  black  eyes,  high  cheek-bones,  flat  noses,  thick 
lips,  large  mouths,  broad  faces,  aud  light  yellowish-brown  complexions, 
with  a  strong  resemblance  to  the  Japanese. 

The  marriage  relation  is  respected,  and  as  a  rule  each  family  has 
its  own  house  with  from  two  to  three  rooms.  They  use  in  their 
houses  a  small  cast-iron  cook-stove  or  neat  wrought-iron  cooking  range, 
granite-ware  kettles,  white  crockery-ware  dishes,  pewter  or  silver-plated 
ware,  and  feather  beds  covered  with  colored  spreads.  Their  walls  are 
adoined  with  colored  pictures  and  their  houses  lighted  with  kerosene 
in  glass  lamps.  Nearly  every  home  possesses  an  accordion,  a  hand- 
organ,  or  music-box,  some  of  the  latter  costing  as  high  as  $200.    They 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  15 

dress  in  American  garments,  and  their  women  study  with  great  interest 
the  fashion  plates  and  try  to  imitate  the  latest  styles. 

Large  numbers  of  them  can  read,  an  Aleutian  alphabet  and  grammar 
having  been  provided  for  them  by  Veniaminoft.  They  are  all  members 
of  the  Eusso-Greek  Church  and  outwardly  very  religious.  They  ask  a 
blessing  at  their  meals,  greet  strangers  and  friends  with  a  blessing  for 
their  health,  and  bid  them  adieu  with  a  benediction. 

The  Hon.  William  S.  Dodge,  ex-mayor  of  Sitka,  says  of  them  : 

Many  among  them  are  highly  educated,  even  among  the  classics.  The  adminis- 
trator of  the  fur  company  often' reposed  great  confidence  in  them.  Oue  of  their  best 
physicians  was  an  Aleutian.     Their  best  traders  and  accoiiutauts  were  Aleutians. 

This,  of  course,  was  more  particularly  true  of  the  past,  when  the  Rus- 
sian Government  gave  them  educational  advantages. 

The  great  industry  of  the  country  is  the  hunting  of  the  sea-otter. 
From  this  source  some  of  the  villagers  derive  a  revenue  that,  if  econom- 
ically used,  would  make  them  wealthy,  averaging  from  $600  to  $1,200 
a  family.  But  their  extra  income  is  spent  for  kvass  (quass),  a  home- 
made intoxicating  beer. 

Commencing  at  the  westward  on  the  island  of  Attn  is  1  white  man 
and  106  Aleuts  and  Creoles.  They  are  very  poor.  The  village  consists 
of  18  houses  (barrabaras)  and  a  frame  chapel  with  thatched  roof,  but 
no  school.  This  is  the  westernmost  settlement  in  the  United  States, 
and  is  as  far  west  of  San  Francisco  as  the  State  of  Maine  is  east. 

The  next  settlement  eastward  is  Nazan  on  Atka  Island,  with  a  popu- 
lation of  2  white  men  and  234  Aleuts  and  Creoles.  They  have  42  houses 
and  a  church,  but  no  school.  They  are  weafthy,  using  freely  at  their 
table  the  groceries  and  canned  fruits  of  civilization.  They  excel  in  the 
manufacture  of  baskets,  mats,  &c.,  out  of  grass. 

At  ^ikolski  on  Umuak  Island  are  2  white  men  and  125  Aleuts  and 
Creoles.  They  are  well-to-do  financially,  having  16  houses  and  a  church, 
but  no  school. 

The  next  settled  island  is  Unalashka,  with  a  rocky,  rugged,  jagged 
coast.  In  the  small  bays  are  a  number  of  villages,  the  principal  oue 
being  Unalashka  (Iliuliuk). 

This  village  has  a  population  of  14  white  men  and  392  Aleuts  and 
Creoles.  They  have  a  church,  priest's  residence,  the  stores,  residences, 
warehouses,  and  wharves  of  the  Alaska  Commercial  Company,  18  frame 
residences,  and  50  barrabaras.  One-half  the  population  can  read  the 
Aleutian  language.  It  is  the  most  important  .settlement  in  Western 
Alaska,  and  the  commercial  center  of  nil  the  trade  now  in  that  region 
or  that  shall  develop  in  the  future.  It  is  the  natural  outfitting  station 
for  vessels  passing  between  the  Pacitic  and  Arctic  Oceans. 

From  a  cave  at  the  southern  end  of  this  island  were  taken  11  mum- 
mies for  the  Smithsonian  Institution. 

Two  hundred  and  twenty-two  miles  north  of  Unalashka  are  the  cele- 
brated Priblloff,  or,  as  they  are  more  popularly  called.  Seal  Islands. 

The  village  of  Saiut  Paul,  on  an  island  of  the  same  name,  is  laid  out  in 
regular  streets  like  an  American  village,  and  has  64  houses,  together 
with  a  large  church,  a  school  house,  and  a  priest's  residence.  The  pop- 
ulation is  13  white  men,  2  white  women,  and  284  Aleuts. 

Twenty-seven  miles  to  the  southeast  is  the  companion  island  of  Saint 
George,  with  4  white  men  and  88  Aleuts.  They  have  a  church  and 
school.  These  islands  are  leased  by  the  United  States  Government  to 
the  Alaska  Commercial  Company  at  an  annual  rental  of  $55,000.  By 
the  terms  of  the  lease  the  company  is  allowed  to  take  100,000  seal-skins 
each  year,  upon  which  they  pay  the  Government  a  royalty  of  $262,500. 


16  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

The  revenue  of  these  islands  since  1870  has  returned  to  the  Govern- 
ment more  than  half  the  sum  paid  to  Russia  for  the  whole  country. 

From  these  two  islands  come  nearly  all  the  seal-skins  of  commerce. 
There  is  a  small  school  on  each  island  supported  at  the  expense  of  the 
company.     (See  Appendix  G.) 

The  native  population  are  encouraged  to  deposit  their  surplus  earn- 
injis  in  a  savings  bank. 

Ii\  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Uiialashka,  on  the  island  of  Spirkin,  is 
Borka,  with  1  white  man  and  139  Aleuts  and  Creoles.  This  village  is 
noted  for  its  cleanliness.  With  their  white  scrubbed  and  neatly-sanded 
floors,  their  clear,  clean  windows,  neat  bedding,  tidy  rooms,  and  abun- 
dance of  wild-flower  bouquets  on  tables  and  window  sills,  they  may 
properly  be  called  the  Hollanders  of  Alaska. 

To  the  eastward,  near  the  southern  end  of  the  Aliaska  Peninsula,  is 
Belkoffski,  with  a  population  of  9  white  men,  2  white  women,  and  257 
Aleuts  and  Creoles.  In  addition  to  the  buildings  of  the  great  tradiug 
firms,  the  village  has  30  frame  houses  and  27  barrabaras. 

In  1880  they  raised  among  themselves  $7,000  for  the  erection  of  a 
new  church.  One-half  of  them  can  read  and  write  in  the  Aleutian  lan- 
guage, and  they  support  a  small  school.  Their  revenue  from  the  sale  of 
sea-otter  skins  amounts  to  about  $100,000  a  year,  or  $373  for  every  man, 
woman,  and  child  in  the  village. 

On  the  island  of  Unga,  one  of  the  Shumagin  group,  is  a  settlement 
of  15  white  men  and  170  natives.  As,  by  a  regulation  of  the  United 
States  Treasury  Department,  only  natives  are  allowed  to  hunt  the  sea- 
otter,  these  white  men  have  married  native  women,  and  thereby  be- 
come natives  in  the  eye  of  the  law.  The  revenue  of  the  sea-otter  trade 
in  this  village  averages  about  $600  a  year  to  each  family.  Oft"  the  south 
coast  of  the  Shumagin  Islands  are  the  famous  cod  banks  of  Alaska, 
from  which  are  taken  from  500,000  to  600,000  fish  annually. 

In  the  Aleutian  district  are  1,890  Aleuts  aud  479  Creoles. 

.  Tinneh. 

"Tinneh"  is  the  native  word  for  "people."  The  Tinneh  of  Alaska  are 
tall,  well  formed,  strong,  and  courageous,  with  great  powers  of  endur- 
ance. They  are  great  hunters  and  fishers.  They  consider  it  a  disgrace, 
an  unfair  advantage  over  a  black  bear  to  shoot  him,  but  boldly  attack 
him  with  a  knife  in  a  square  open  fight.  Polygamy  prevails  among  them, 
the  men  frequently  having  more  than  one,  but  seldom  more  than  three 
wives.  Wives  are  taken  and  discarded  at  pleasure.  Among  some  of 
them  female  infanticide  is  i)revalent.  The  bodies  of  the  dead  are  buried 
in  boxes  above  ground.  Shamanism  aud  witchcraft,  with  all  their  at- 
tendant barbarities,  prevail.  They  also  believe  in  a  multitude  of  spirits, 
good  and  bad. 

On  the  lower  course  of  the  Yukon  and  Kuskokwim  Rivers,  and  in  the 
great  range  of  country  north  and  south  bordering  on  the  Innuit  of  the 
coast,  are  the  w  esteru  Tinneh,  the  Ingaliks  of  the  Russians,  numbering 
in  3  bands  about  1,800. 

From  the  junction  of  the  Yukon  and  the  Tananah  Rivers,  westward 
to  the  British  line,  from  the  Innuit  on  the  Arctic  shore  almost  to  Lynn 
Canal  on  the  south,  is  the  home  of  the  Kutchiu  families.  They  num- 
ber, with  the  Ah-tena  on  Copper  River,  about  3,300.  Some  of  these 
people  have  been  taught  to  read  by  the  missionaries  of  the  Church  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  England.     (See  Appendix  H.) 

Around  the  shores  of  Cook's   Inlet  are  the  Keuai,  numbering  813 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  17 

souls.  They  have  largely  been  brought  under  the  influence  of  the 
Russo-Greek  Church  and  become  civilized.  They  (hvell  in  .substantial 
and  well-built  houses  with  spruce-bark  roofs.  They  have  churches,  but 
no  schools. 

Thlinget. 

The  Thlinget,  composed  of  10  clans,  occupy  the  islands  of  the  Alex- 
ander Archipelago  and  coasts  adjacent.     They  number  <>,4.i7. 

Intimately  associated  with  these  are  788  Hydah,  occupying  the  south- 
ern end  of  Prince  of  Wales  Island. 

The  Thlinget  are  a  hardy,  self-reliant,  industrious,  self  supporting, 
well  to  do,  warlike,  superstitious  race,  whose  very  name  is  a  terror  to 
the  civilized  Aleuts  to  the  west  as  well  as  to  the  savage  Tinneh  to  the 
north  of  them. 

Chilliat. 

Occupying  the  extreme  northern  section  of  Lynn  Canal  and  tin'  valleys 
of  the  Chilkat  and  Chilkoot  Kivcrs  is  the  Chilkat  tribe,  numbering  0S8. 
They  are  great  traders,  being  the  ''middle-men"  of  theii' region,  caivy- 
ing  the  goods  of  commerce  to  the  interior  and  exchanging  them  for  furs, 
which  are  brought  to  the  coast,  and  in  turn  exchanged  for  more  uht- 
chandise.  Their  country  is  on  the  highway  of  the  gold-seekers  to  the 
interior. 

In  the  summer  of  1880,  a  tra<ling  [»ost  having  been  established  among 
them,  I  arranged  for  a  school  to  be  taught  by  the  wife  of  the  trad«'r, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Dickinson,  an  educated  native. 

In  1881  I  accompanied  Rev.  Eugene  S.  Willard  and  family,  whoc^om- 
Dieuced  a  mission  among  them. 

In  1882  Miss  Bessie  M.  Mathews,  of  Monmouth,  111.,  was  sent  out  to 
take  charge  of  a  boartling  department,  which  was  opened  in  188o.  The 
station  is  called  Haines,  and  has  a  post-office.  Thirty  miles  ui)  the 
Chilkat  River,  for  a  time,  a  school  was  taught  by  Louis  and  Tillie  Paul, 
native  teachers. 

Hoonah. 

One  hundred  miles  southward  are  the  Hoonah,  occupying  both  sides 
of  Cross  Sound^  ami  numbering  1)08.  In  1881  I  erected  a  school-house 
and  teacher's  residence  at  their  princi])al  village,  on  Chichagoff  Island, 
and  i)lac('d  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walter  B.  Styles,  of  New  York  City,  in  charge. 
In  1882  they  were  transferred  to  Sitka.  In  1884  Rev.  and  Mrs.  John  W. 
McFarland  were  sent  from  Wrangell  to  Hoonah,  and  are  now  in  charge 
of  the  school. 

Alike. 

A  few  miles  to  the  eastward,  on  the  Admiralty  Island,  arc  the  Aul^e, 
numbering  (UO.  In  their  region  valuable  gold  mines  have  l)een  opened 
and  an  American  uiining  village  establislied  at  Juneau.  A  summer 
school  was  taught  by  ^Mrs.  W.  II.  R.  Corlies  during  1882  and  1883. 

Tnlat. 

A  few  miles  to  the  south,  on  the  mainland,  is  the  Taku  tril)e,  num- 
bering 209.  A  summer  school  was  held  among  them  in  1880  by  Rev. 
and  Mrs.  W.  H.  R.  Corlies,  of  Pliiladeli)hia.  In  1882,  pressed  by  the 
importunities  of  the  leading  n\(',n  of  the  tribe,  he  took  up  his  abode 
among  them,  and  erected  school  and  residence  buildings  at  Tsek-nnk- 
sauk-y. 

7018  AL 2 


18  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

Hoochinoo. 

Ou  the  Southwestern  side  of  Admiral tj*  Island  are  tbe  Hoochinoo, 
uumberinji;  GGG.  This  tribe  has  for  several  years  been  asking  for  a 
teacher.    This  place  has  been  selected  for  one  of  the  Government  schools. 

Kale. 

To  the  south,  on  Kuiu  and  Kupreanoff  Islands,  are  the  Kake,  num- 
bering 568. 

Stikine. 

Eastward,  around  the  mouth  and  lower  course  of  the  Stikine  River, 
are  the  Stikine.  They  number  317.  Their  principal  village  is  at  Fort 
Wraugell,  ou  an  island  of  the  same  name. 

At  this  point  in  the  tall  of  1877  1  located  Mrs.  A.  R.  McFarland.  In 
1878  Rev.  S.  Hall  Young,  of  West  Virginia,  was  sent  out.  The  same 
season  a  boarding  department  for  girls  was  established  by  Mrs.  A.  R. 
McFarland.  In  1879  Miss  Maggie  A.  Dunbar,  of  Steubenville,  Ohio, 
was  added  to  the  teaching  force.  The  same  year  the  erection  of  a  suit- 
able building  was  commenced,  which  was  finished  and  occupied  the  fol- 
lowing year.  Also  the  same  year  Rev.  W.  H.  R.  Corlies  and  family 
arrived  from  Philadelphia.  Mrs.  Corlies  opened  a  school  on  the  beach 
for  visiting  natives,  and  her  husband  a  night  school  for  adults.  He  also 
served  as  missionary  physician  to  the  place. 

In  1882  Rev.  John  W.  McFarland  and  Miss  Kate  A.  Rankin  were  added 
to  the  missionary  force.  In  the  fall  of  1884  the  Girls'  Home  was  removed 
to  Sitka,  together  with  Mrs.  A.  R.  McFarland  and  Miss  Rankin.  'Mr. 
J.  W.  McFarland  and  his  wife  {nee  Dunbar)  were  sent  to  Hoonah. 

Tongafis. 

Two  hundred  miles  south  of  Fort  Wrangell  are  the  Tongass,  num- 
bering 273.  Some  of  them  cross  over  to  British  Columbia,  and  find 
school  privileges  at  Port  Simpson,  a  station  of  the  Wesle^'an  Methodist 
Church  of  Canada.  In  1884  a  school  was  established  among  them,  with 
Louis  and  Tillie  Paul  as  teachers. 

Hydah. 

West  of  the  Tongass,  on  the  southern  half  of  Prince  of  Wales  Island, 
are  the  Hydah,  numbering  788.  They  are  a  large,  well  formed,  and 
handsome  race,  with  light  complexion,  and  have  long  been  noted  for 
their  bravery  and  ferocity  in  war.  Terrorizing  all  the  neighboring 
tribes,  they  were  known  as  the  "  Bulldogs"  of  the  Xorth  Pacific.  They 
have  not  even  hesitated  to  attack  and  plunder  English  and  American 
vessels.  In  1854  they  held  the  captain  and  crew  of  an  American  vessel 
in  captivity  until  ransomed  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Fur  Company.  Their 
villages  are  remarkable  for  the  number  of  totem  sticks.  These  are 
carved  logs  from  1  to  2  feet  in  diameter,  and  from  20  to  GO  feet  high. 
Some  of  them  contain  hollow  cavities,  in  which  are  placed  the  ashes  of 
cremated  dead  chiefs;  others  are  heraldic  and  represent  the  family 
totem  or  orders.  In  some  cases  a  large  oval  opening  through  one  of 
these  sticks  forms  the  entrance  to  the  house ;  in  others  the  pole  is  at 
one  side  of  the  entrance.  The  house  is  a  large,  low,  plauk  building 
from  40  to  50  feet  square,  with  a  fire-place  in  the  center  of  the  floor,  and 


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EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  19 

a  large  openiog  in  the  roof  for  the  escape  of  the  smoke.  Some  of  them 
have  inserted  windows  and  doors  in  their  bniklings.  and  procnred  bed- 
steads, tables,  stoves,  dishes,  and  other  appliances  of  civilized  life. 

Their  food  consists  largely  of  fish,  dried  or  fresh,  according  to  the 
season.  Their  conntry  also  abonnds  with  wild  berries  and  deer.  The 
berries  are  i)reserved  in  fish-oil  for  winter  nse.  Their  coast  also  abonnds 
with  good  clams.     They  raise  large  quantitit^s  of  potatoes. 

The  H3xlah  are  noted  for  their  skill  in  carving  wood,  bone,  gold, 
silver,  and  stone.  The  finest  of  the  great  cedar  canoes  of  the  north- 
Avest  coast  are  mannfactnred  bj'  them.  They  practice  polygamy  and 
hold  slaves.  The  husband  buys  his  wife,  frequently  while  a  mere  girl, 
from  her  parents.  If  she  does  not  suit  she  can  be  returned  and  the 
price  refunded.    Chastity  is  uncommon.    They  are  inveterate  gamblers. 

Like  the  other  heathen  tribes  on  that  coast,  they  live  in  perpetual  fear 
of  evil  spirits,  and  give  large  sums  to  the  coujurors  and  medicine  men, 
who,  by  their  incantations,  are  supposed  to  secure  immunity  from  the 
evil  intlueuces  of  the  spirits.  In  sickness  their  main  reliance  is  upon 
the  incantations  of  their  medicine  men,  and  death  is  ascribed  to  the  evil 
influence  of  an  enemy  or  witchcraft,  and  whoever  is  suspected  of  ex- 
erting that  influence  is  killed.  The  dead  are  usually  burned,  and  the 
ashes  placed  in  a  small  box  and  deposited  in  a  house  or  totem  stick. 
An  election  to  chieftainship  is  purchased  by  a  "  potlatch,"  or  giving 
away  of  presents  of  goods  and  money.  These  are  common  to  the  na- 
tive tribes  on  the  Pacific  coast  from  Puget  Sound  to  Alaska. 

An^mbitious  young  man  will  work  hard  for  years  and  save  his  earn- 
ings, that  he  may  make  a  pot-latch.  If  unable  to  accumulate  a  suflicient 
sum  of  himself,  his  relatives  will  add  to  his  collection.  When  the  time 
arrives  the  people  are  invited  for  hundreds  of  miles  around.  It  is  a 
season  of  dancing  and  other  festivities,  during  which  the  entire  accumu- 
lation of  j'ears  is  given  away  and  the  giver  impoverished.  He,  how- 
ever, secures  position  and  renown,  and  soon  recovers  in  the  gifts  of 
others  more  than  he  gave  away. 

The  customs  of  the  Hydah  are  largely  the  customs  of  all  the  Thlinget 
tribes. 

On  the  22d  of  August,  1881,  I  established  a  mission  among  them  at 
the  village  of  Howcan,  placing  Mr.  James  p].  Chapman  in  charge  as  a 
teacher.  The  station  was  called  eTackson  by  the  missionaries.  In  the 
spring  of  1882  Eev.  J.  Loomis  Gould  and  family,  of  West  Virginia, 
were  sent  to  the  Hydah.  The  same  year  some  ladies  in  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  provided  a  saw-mill  for  the  station ;  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year 
Miss  Clara  A.  Gould  was  added  to  the  teaching  force  at  Jackson. 

Ranegah. 

In  the  northern  portion  of  Prince  of  Wales  Island  are  the  Hauegah, 
numbering  587.  The  establishment  of  a  school  among  them  is  under 
consi<leration. 

Sitlias. 

To  the  north,  on  the  western  coast  of  Baranofif,  are  the  Sitkas,  num- 
bering 721.  Their  chief  village  is  at  Sitka,  the  old  capital  of  the  Rus- 
sian possessions  in  America.  It  was  their  political,  commercial,  relig- 
ious, and  educational  center.  As  early  as  1805  a  school  was  opened 
at  SiJ;ka.  It  held  a  very  precarious  existence,  however,  until  1820,  when 
It  came  under  the  charge  of  a  naval  officer,  who  kept  a  good  school  for 
thirteen  years.     In  1833  this  school  came  under  the  direction  of  Etoliu, 


20  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

who  Still  fiirtlier  inciviised  its  eflicieiicy.  Etolin  was  a  Creole,  who  by 
force  of  ability  and  merit  raised  liiiiisidf  to  the  liigbest  position  in  tbe 
country,  that  of  chief  director  of  the  fur  company  and  governor  of  the 
colony.  He  was  a  Lutheran,  the  patron  of  schools  and  churches. 
While  governor  he  erected  a  Protestant  church  at  Sitka,  and  presented 
it  with  a  small  pipe  organ,  which  is  still  in  use. 

In  1.S40,  besides  the  colonial  school  at  Stika,  was  one  ibr  ori)han  boys 
and  sons  of  workmen  and  subaltern  emi)loyes  ot  the  fur  company,  in 
which  were  taught  reading,  wiiting,  arithmetic,  grammar,  mechanical 
trades,  and  religion.  Tli^  most  ])roticient  ot  the  pui>ils  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  were  advauce<l  to  the  colonial  school  and  ])rei)are<l  lor  the 
navy  or  priesthood.  The  number  of  boarders  was  limited  to  lifty.  The 
school  was  in  charge  of  Lieutenant  Commander  Prince  Maxutoft',  assist- 
ant governor  of  the  colony.  Jn  lS-47  the  attendance  was  52  ;  in  1849, 
39;  and  in  LSIH,  27. 

in  1839  a  girls'  school  of  a  similar  character  was  established  and  the 
number  of  l)oarders  limited  to  40.  The  course  of  study  comprised  the 
Russian  language,  reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  household  woik,  sewing, 
and  religion.  In  1848  the  school  numbered  32  ;  in  1849, 39  ;  and  in  1861, 
26.  , 

In  1841  a  theological  school  was  established  at  Sitka,  which,  in  1S49, 
was  advanced  to  the  grade  of  a  seminary.  In  1848  it  reported  30  board- 
ers, 12  day  pupils,  and  12  Creoles  being  educated  in  Russia.  Of  those 
in  Russia  two  were  in  training  for  pilots,  oue  as  merchant,  one  gunsmith, 
one  fur  dealer,  one  tailor,  and  oue  cobbler.  In  1849  the  attendan<le  was 
re])orted  28,  with  11  others  in  Russia. 

In  1859  and  1860  the  comniou  schools  at  Sitka  were  remodeled  in  order 
to  secure  greater  eflicieucy.  The  course  of  study  consisted  of  Russian- 
Slavonian,  and  English  languages,  arithmetic,  history,  geogTai)hy,  book, 
keeping,  geometry,  trigonometry,  navigation,  astronomy,  and  religion. 
A  knowledge  of  Russian,  reading  and  writing,  and  the  tour  rules  of 
arithmetic  was  required  for  admission. 

A  pupil  tailing  to  pass  examination  two  years  in  succession  was 
dropped.  The  course  extended  over  five  years.  Extra  compensation 
was  allowed  teachers  who  secured  the  best  results.  The  faculty  con- 
sisted of  a  principal,  who  was  a  graduate  of  the  School  of  Commercial 
Navigation  ;  a  free  pilot,  who  taught  navigation ;  an  emploj'e  of  the  com- 
pany, who  taught  book  keei)ing  and  commercial  branches;  one  priest 
and  two  licentiates,  graduates  of  the  University  of  St.  Petersburg. 

The  corresponding  schools  ibr  girls  were  in  charge  of  a  lady  graduate 
of  one  of  the  highest  female  schools  in  Russia,  with  two  male  teachers. 

This  made  five  schools  at  Sitka — two  for  the  children  of  the  lower 
class,  two  for  the  higher  class,  and  one  seminary. 

About  the  time  of  the  transfer  of  the  country-  the  teachers  were  re- 
called to  Russia  and  the  schools  suspended. 

But  with  the  change  of  Government  came  a  new  people.  The  major- 
ity of  the  Russians  left  the  country,  and  their  places  were  taken  by 
Americans.  Many  came  iu  from  California,  and  on  the  8tli  ot  ISIovem- 
ber,  1867,  less  than  a  month  from  the  time  that  the  country  passed  uu- 
der  the  United  States  flag,  the  citizens  called  a  meetiug  and  formed  a 
temporary  local  go\"ernment.  And  on  the  18th  of  December,  1867,  a 
petition  signed  by  forty-nine  persons,  two  of  whom  "  made  their  mark," 
was  i)resented  to  the  common  council  asking  that  a  citizens'  meeting 
might  be  called  to  empower  the  council  to  establish  a  school.  (See  Ai^jien- 
dix  J.)  On  the  20th  of  March,  1868,  the  council  adopted  some  school  regu- 
lations and  appointed  three  trustees,  who  exercised  a  joint  control  with 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  21 

a  committee  of  officers  from  the  military  post  at  Sitka.  During  the  win- 
ter of  18G8-'69  a  school  building-  was  purchased.  The  annual  reports 
of  the  trustees  have  disappeared,  and  there  is  nothing  to  show  the  time 
when  teaching  commenced.  In  ()<'tol)er,  18G9,  the  council  voted  that  the 
salary  of  the  teacher  should  be  $7.'>  per  month  in  coin,  and  on  March  1, 
1871,  it  was  ordered  to  be  82.1  per  monlh,  which  evidently  means  that 
at  the  latter  i)eriod  the  i)OSt  commander  withdrew  the  $50  per  month 
which  had  been  paid  from  army  funds.  On  the  12th  of  August,  187J, 
permission  was  given  the  bishoj)  of  the  Greek  Church  to  teach  the  l,ius- 
sian  language  one  hour  each  day  in  the  public  school.  During  187;>  the 
school  seems  to  have  died  out. 

In  1879  and  1880  another  attempt  was  made  to  establish  a  school, 
which  was  taught  by  Mr.  Alonzo  E.  Austin  and  Miss  Etta  Austin. 

In  the  winter  of  1877  and  1878  I  secured  the  appointment  of  Eev. 
John  (1.  Brady  for  Sitka,  and  in  April,  1878,  a  school  was  opened  by 
Mr.  Brady  and  Miss  Fannie  E.  Kellogg.  In  December,  through  a  com- 
bination of  circumstances,  it  was  discontinued.  In  the  spring  of  1880 
Miss  Olinda  Austin  was  sent  out  from  New  York  City,  and  commenced 
school  April  5,  in  one  of  the  rooms  of  the  guard-house,  with  lOo  children 
present.  This  number  increased  to  130.  Then  some  of  the  parents 
applied  for  admission,  but  couhl  not  be  received,  as  the  room  would  not 
accommodate  any  more. 

Miss  Austin  received  the  support  and  substantial  assistance  of  Cap- 
tain Beardslee,  then  in  command  of  the  U.  S.  S.  Jamestown,  who  proved 
himself  a  warm  Irieud  of  the  enterprise. 

In  July  the  school  was  moved  to  the  old  hospital  building. 

In  November  some  of  the  boys  applied  to  the  teacher  for  permission 
to  live  in  the  school-house.  At  home,  they  alleged,  there  was  so  much 
drinking,  talking,  and  carousing  that  they  could  not  study.  The  teacher 
replied  that  she  had  no  accommodations,  bedding,  or  food  for  them. 
But  they  were  so  much  in  earnest  that  they  said  they  would  provide 
for  themselves.  Upon  receiving  permission,  seven  native  boys,  thirteen 
and  fourteen  years  of  age,  bringing  a  blanket  each,  voluntarily  left  their 
homes  and  took  up  their  abode  in  a  vacant  room  of  one  of  the  Govern- 
ment buildings.  Thus  commenced  the  boarding  department  of  the  Sitka 
school.  Soon  other  boys  joined  them.  Capt.  Henry  Glass,  who  suc- 
ceeded Ca[)tain  Beardslee  in  command  of  the  U.  S.  S,  Jamestown,  from 
the  first,  with  his  officers,  especially  Lieut.  F.  M.  Symouds,  U.  S.  N., 
took  a  deep  interest  in  the  school.  As  he  had  opportunity  he  secured 
boys  from  distant  tribes  and  jdaced  them  in  the  institution,  until  there 
were  27  boys  in  the  boarding  department. 

In  February,  1881,  Captain  Glass  established  a  rule  compelling  the 
attendance  of  the  native  children  upon  the  day  school,  which  was  a  move 
in  the  right  direction  and  worked  admirably.  He  first  caused  the  native 
village  to  be  cleaned  up,  ditches  dug  around  each  house  for  drainage, 
and  the  houses  whitewashed.  These  sanitary  regulations  greatly  less- 
ened the  sickness  and  death  rate  among  them.  He  ordered  the  houses 
to  be  numbere<l  and  an  accurate  census  taken  of  the  inmates,  adults 
and  children.  He  then  caused  a  number  of  labels  to  be  made  of  tin, 
one  of  which  was  tied  around  the  neck  of  each  child,  with  his  or  her 
number  aiul  the  number  of  the  house  on  it,  so  that  if  a  child  was  found 
on  the  street  during  school  hours,  the  native  policeman  was  under  or- 
ders to  take  the  number  on  the  label  and  report  it,  or  the  teacher  each 
day  would  rei)ort  that  such  and  such  numbers  from  such  houses  were 
absent  that  day.  The  following  morning  the  head  man  of  the  house  to 
which  the  absentee  belonged  was  summoned  to  appear  and  answer  for 


22  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

the  cliild.  If  tbe  child  was  willfully  absent,  the  head  man  was  fined  or 
imprisoued.  A  few  cases  of  fine  proved  sufficient.  As  soon  as  the 
people  found  the  captain  in  earnest  tlie  children  were  all  in  school.  This 
ran  the  average  attendance  up  to  230  and  250,  the  attendance  one  day 
reaching,  with  adults,  271,  In  April  of  that  year  Mr.  Alonzo  E.  Austin 
was  associated  with  his  daughter  in  the  school  and  Mrs.  Austin  appointed 
matron.  In  the  winter  of  1882  the  school-house  was  burned,  and  the 
boys  took  refuge  in  an  abandoned  Government  stable,  which  was  fitted 
up  for  them.  In  the  fall  of  1882,  after  consultation  with  the  collector  of 
customs,  the  commander  of  the  United  States  man-of-war,  and  the  lead- 
ing citizens,  I  selected  a  new  location  for  the  school  outside  of  village 
limits  and  erected  a  two-and-a-half  story  building  100  by  50  feet  in  size. 
In  1884  the  Girls'  Boarding  School  at  Fort  Wrangell  was  removed  to 
Sitka,  and  the  united  schools  made  a  Government  contract  industrial 
and  training  school.  The  same  season  a  second  large  building,  130  by 
50  feet,  was  erected  for  the  use  of  the  school,  and  in  March,  1885,  there 
were  42  bovs  and  61  girls  under  training  in  this  school.  (See  Appen- 
dix M.) 

ESTABLISHMENT    OF   PUBLIC   SCHOOLS. 

On  the  2d  day  of  March,  1885,  the  honorable  the  Secretary  of  the 
Interior  assigned  the  work  of  making  provision  for  the  education  of  the 
children  in  Alaska  to  the  Bureau  of  Education.     (See  Appendix  C.) 

It  was  a  work  of  great  magnitude,  in  a  new  and  untried  field,  and 
with  unknown  difficulties.  It  was  a  work  so  unlike  any  other  that  the 
experience  of  the  past  in  other  Departments  could  not  be  the  sole  guide. 
It  was  a  i)roblem  peculiar  to  itself,  and  must  be  worked  out  by  and  for 
itself  It  covered  an  area  of  one-sixth  of  the  United  States.  The  schools 
to  be  established  would  be  from  4,000  to  0,000  miles  from  headquarters 
at  Washington,  and  from  100  to  1,000  miles  from  one  another.  And  that 
in  an  inaccessible  countiy,  only  one  small  corner  of  which  has  any 
public  means  of  intercommunication.  The  teachers  of  five  schools  in 
Southeastern  Alaska  would  be  able  to  receive  a  montlily  mail;  the 
larger  number  of  the  others  could  onl^*  receive  a  chance  mail  two  or 
three  times  a  year,  and  still  others  only  one  annually. 

It  was  to  establish  English  schools  among  a  peojjle  the  larger  portion 
of  whom  do  not  speak  or  understand  the  English  language,  the  diffi- 
culties of  which  will  be  better  appreciated  if  you  conceive  of  an  attempt 
being  made  to  instruct  the  children  of  New  York  or  Georgia  in  arith- 
metic, geography,  and  other  common-school  branches  through  the  me- 
dium of  Chinese  teachers  and  text-books.  Of  the  30,(i00  peoi)le  in 
Alaska,  not  over  2,000  speak  the  English  tongue,  and  they  are  mainly 
in  three  settlements. 

It  was  to  instruct  a  people,  the  greater  portion  of  whom  are  uncivil- 
ized, who  need  to  be  taught  sanitary  regulations,  the  laws  of  health, 
improvement  of  dwellings,  better  methods  of  housekeeping,  cooking, 
and  dressing,  more  remunerative  forms  of  labor,  honesty,  chastity,  the 
sacredness  of  the  marriage  relation,  and  everything  that  elevates  man. 
So  that,  side  bj'  side  with  the  usual  school  drill  in  leading,  writing,  and 
arithmetic,  there  is  need  of  instruction  for  the  girls  in  housekeei)ing, 
cooking,  and  gardening,  in  cutting,  sewing,  and  mending;  and  for  the 
boys  in  carpentering  and  other  forms  of  wood  working,  boot  and  shoe 
making,  and  the  various  trades  of  civilization. 

It  was  to  furnish  educational  advantages  to  a  ])eople,  large  classes 
of  whom  are  too  ignorant  to  ap[)reciate  them,  and  who  require  some 


^        V. 

tr      — 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  23 

form  of  pressure  to  oblige  them  to  keep  tbeir  children  in  school  regu- 
larly. It  was  a  system  of  schools  among  a  people,  who,  while  in  the 
main  only  partially  civilized,  yet  have  a  future  before  them  as  Ameri- 
can citizens. 

It  was  the  establishment  of  schools  in  a  region  where  not  only  the 
school-house  but  also  the  teacher's  residence  must  be  erected,  and 
where  a  portion  of  the  material  must  be  transported  from  1,500  to  4,500 
miles,  necessitating  a  corresponding  increase  in  the  school  expenditure. 

It  was  the  finding  of  properly  qualified  teachers,  who,  for  a  moderate 
salary,  would  be  willing  to  exile  themselves  from  all  society,  and  some 
of  them  settle  down  in  regions  of  arctic  winters  where  they  can  hear 
from  the  outside  world  only  once  a  year. 

To  the  magnitude  of  the  work,  and  the  special  difficulties  environing 
it,  is  still  further  added  the  complication  arising  from  the  lack  of  suflfl- 
cient  funds  to  carry  it  on,  there  being  appropriated  only  825,000  with 
which  to  commence  it. 

GENERAL  AGENT  OF  EDUCATION. 

From  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  work  it  was  at  once  apparent  that 
it  could  not  be  efficiently  carried  on  from  the  office  at  Washington  alone, 
but  required  in  addition  an  agent  familiar  with  the  country,  and  who 
should  spend  his  summers  on  the  field,  determining  the  location  of  new 
schools,  inspecting  existing  ones,  and  arranging  with  regard  to  build- 
ings, supplies,  and  teachers. 

Consequently  on  the  11th  of  April,  1885,  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior 
directed  the  establishment  of  the  office  of  "General  Agent  of  Education 
in  Alaska."     (See  Appendix  D.) 

This  action  met  with  the  hearty  indorsement  of  the  leading  educa- 
tors of  the  United  States,  who  for  several  years  past  have  manifested 
an  interest  in  the  establishment  of  public  schools  in  Alaska.  (See  Ap- 
pendix E.) 

SCHOOLS   IN   sou  THE  ASTERN  ALASKA. 

In  Southeastern  Alaska  the  establishment  of  schools,  in  comparison 
with  the  difficulties  met  in  other  sections  of  this  land,  was  easy,  as  four 
of  the  seven  schools  can  be  reached  monthly  by  the  mail  steamer. 
Further,  schools  had  been  kept  at  all  these  points  but  two,  for  several 
years  by  teachers  in  the  employ  of  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  This  missionary  organization  was  the  first  of  the 
American  churches  to  enter  that  neglected  land.  Finding  no  schools, 
they  established  them  side  by  side  with  their  missions,  proposing  to  fur- 
nish educational  advantages  until  the  General  Government  should  be 
ready  to  do  it.  Therefoi^e  last  fall,  wherever  the  Government  was  ready 
to  undertake  the  work  in  any  village  occupied  by  the  Presbyterians,  they 
turned  over  their  schools  to  the  Government.  As  the  Presbyterians  had 
a  body  of  efficient  teachers  already  on  the  ground,  acclimated,  expe- 
rienced in  the  work,  more  or  less  acquainted  with  the  native  language, 
and  possessing  the  confidence  of  the  people,  it  was  both  more  economi- 
cal to  the  Government  and  for  the  best  interests  of  the  schools  that  they 
should  as  far  as  possible  be  re-employed,  which  was  done. 

Special  requests  having  been  received  for  an  early  inauguration  of  the 
public-school  system  in  Sitka  and  Juneau,  I  gave  them  my  first  atten- 
tion. 


24  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

OFFICIAL   INTERFERENCE. 

At  Sitka  I  met  with  considerable  annoyance  and  opposition  from  some 
of  the  late  officials  stationed  there.  For  reasons  best  known  to  them- 
selves, those  officers  directly  or  indirectly  threw  their  oflicial  influence 
in  opposition  to  the  school  and  mission  work.  This  commenced  while  I 
was  superintendent  of  the  industrial  school  at  Sitka,  and  was  continued 
after  I  resijiued  that  i)osition  and  accepted  the  Government  agency. 
This  oi)position  culminated  on  the  19th  of  August,  18.S.^,  at  which  date 
I  went  aboard  the  monthly  mail  steamer  with  school  desks  and  furni- 
ture for  the  Government  school  at  Wrangell,  and  with  charts,  maps, 
&c.,  for  the  schools  at  TJoonah,  Haines,  Juneau,  Wrangell,  and  Jack- 
son ;  also  with  the  i)apers  and  instructions  necessary  to  set  them  in 
oi»eration  early  in  Se|»tember.  1  was  also  expecting  to  visit  Killisnoo 
and  see  what  arrangements  could  be  made  for  a  school  there.  Just  as 
the  gang-plank  was  to  be  drawn  in  before  leaving  I  was  arrested  by 
Deputy  Marshal  Sullivan,  and  with  unnecessary  rudeness  hustled  off 
the  steamer.  After  tlie  arrest  I  was  locked  up  in  a  cell  until  the 
steamer  was  out  of  reach,  when  I  was  taken  before  the  judge,  arrange- 
ments were  made  for  increasing  my  bonds  to  $3,200,  and  I  was  set  free. 
As  we  have  only  one  mail  steamer  a  month  they  accom])lished  their  pur- 
pose in  detaining  me  at  Sitka.  Last  spring  District  Attorney  Haskett, 
through  false  representations  to  the  grand  jury,  succeeded  in  securing 
four  indictments  against  me  for  building  fences  and  making  other  im- 
provements for  the  training  school,  on  Government  land  it  is  true,  but 
land  which  had  been  set  apart  for  the  school  by  Congress.  The  four  in- 
dictments were  for  different  stages  of  one  and  the  same  offense.  If  the 
alleged  acts  had  really  been  committed  the  penalty  is  from  $25  to  $500. 
The  bail  was  placed  at  the  extreme  limit,  $500  for  each  case,  accepted 
by  the  judge,  and  the  trial  set  for  the  November  term. 

At  the  time  of  the  sailing  of  the  steamer  Mr.  Haskett  secured  from 
Judge  McAllister  a  warrant  for  my  arrest,  requiring  me  to  appear  before 
the  court  and  increase  the  amount  of  my  bonds.  This  could  have  been 
done  in  ten  minutes  and  I  hHve  been  allowed  to  go  about  my  official 
duties.  Although  it  was  well  known  that  I  intended  leaving  on  the 
steamer,  the  warrant  was  not  issued  until  9  o'clock  a.  m.  on  the  day  the 
steamer  sailed.  Even  then  the  serving  of  it  was  held  back  until  3  p.  m., 
the  hour  the  steamer  sailed.  The  warrant  required  me  to  be  taken  be- 
fore the  judge  "forthwith,"  instead  of  which  I  was  locked  up  in  a  cell. 
The. feeling  of  indignation  against  both  Mr.  Haskett  and  Judge  McAllis- 
ter over  this  last  official  outrage  was  very  great.  Russians,  natives,  and 
Americans  alike  condemned  it  in  unmeasured  terras.  This  was  the  end 
of  their  official  power  to  hinder  the  school  work,  as  the  next  mail  steamer 
brought  the  news  of  their  removal  from  office  and  the  appointment  of 
others  in  their  stead,  who  are  manifesting  a  very  marked  interest  in  the 
schools.  The  new  district  attorney,  Col.  M.  D.  Ball,  gave  early  atten- 
tion to  the  indictments  against  me.  Finding  that  the  matter  on  which 
the  four  indictments  for  obstructing  a  road  were  based  was  not,  under 
the  laws  of  Oregon,  a  criminal  offense,  nor  an  indictable  offense,  but  at 
most  a  misdemeanor,  cognizable  before  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  also 
finding  that  the  obstruction  in  the  one  case  was  purely  technical  and 
in  the  others  an  alteration  of  the  road  which  came  within  the  spirit  of 
the  law,  he  moved,  at  a  meeting  of  the  United  States  district  court,  Oc- 
tober 5,  1885,  that  the  cases  be  dismissed,  which  was  done.     The  affair 


BUILIUNG    USED    I5Y    U.    S.    PUBLIC    SCHOOL,  HAINES,  ALASKA. 

Fioru  a  plioto;;iaph  by  Itev.  E.  S.  Willaid. 


BUILDING    USED    BY   U.    S.    PUBLIC    SCHOOL,  SITKA,  ALASKA 
Fioiu  a  sketch  by  Mr.  Salomon  Ripinsky. 


EDUCATION    iKr    ALASKA.  25 

has  attracted  so  iiiucb  attention  tliat  I  inclose  the  record  of  the  court.* 
(See  A])i)endix  K.) 

Previous  to  his  removal  troui  office,  United  States  District  Attorney 
Haskett,  by  means  of  ])ersistent  misrepresentations  and  the  matter-of- 
course  manner  in  which  many  ])eisons  sign  petitions,  secured  a  number 
of  signatures  to  a  petition  asking  for  my  removah 

But  after  the  officials  who  were  active  in  the  matter  were  removed 
from  office  by  the  President,  causing  tbe  special  pressure  on  the  com- 
munity to  cease,  there  was  a  reaction  in  ])ublic  sentiment. 

Two  i)rominent  citizens  who  had  signed  the  i)etition  for  my  removal 
afterward  offered  to  go  on  my  bonds,  and  others  apologized,  explaining 
that  at  the  time  they  did  not  know  wliat  it  was  they  vsigned.  These 
troubles  and  the  misrepresentations  preceding  tliein  created  more  or 
less  j)rejndice  against  the  general  agent  for  the  past  summer.  The 
prejudice  is  rapidly  disappearing,  and  has  in  no  way  impaired  the  ef- 
ficiency of  the  public  schools. 

The  parents  and  the  cliildren  are  not  brougiit  into  personal  relations 
with  the  agent,  but  with  the  teachers.  If  the  teachers  are  i)ersouilly 
popular  and  efficient,  then  the  schools  will  prosper  and  win  their  way. 

That  the  schools  have  prospered  will  be  seen  by  the  detailed  report 
of  their  monthlj'  attendance. 

To  Sitka,  the  chief  seat  of  the  troubles,  teachers  were  sent  from  the 
East. 

Sitka. 

By  permission  of  the  collector  of  the  port,  who  is  the  custodian  of 
the  Government  buildings.  I  took  possession  of  a  log  house  in  the  center 
ot  the  village  and  repaired  it  as  best  I  could  under  the  circumstances. 
In  this  building  a  school  was  opened  on  June  22,  1885,  with  Miss  Mar- 
garet Powell  as  teacher.  Miss  Powell  is  a  trained  teacher  from  Western 
Pennsylvania  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  At- 
tendance :  June,  17 ;  July,  31 ;  August,  22 ;  September,  22 ;  October, 
26;  November,  34;  December,  31;  and  January,  43. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  arrival  of  the  new  officials  Governor  Swineford 
called  a  meeting  of  the  Alaskans  to  urge  upon  them  the  importance  and 
duty  of  placing  all  their  children  in  school.  They  were  also  addressed  in 
thesame  strain  by  Colonel  Ball,  by  the  genera)  agent,  and  by  Revs.  Messrs. 
Willard  and  Austin.  The  effect  of  these  addresses  was  such  that  upon 
consultation  with  the  other  officials,  and  at  their  request,  it  seemed  wise 
to  add  a  second  department  to  the  school  at  Sitka,  which  was  done  on 
the  16th  of  November,  with  Miss  Kate  A.  Rankin,  of  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania, as  teacher,  and  77  pupils  in  attendance. 

Juneau. 

This  village,  166 1  miles  by  water  northeast  of  Sitka,  is  so  far  the  prin- 
cipal mining  center  of  Alaska,  and  has  the  largest  American  population 
of  any  place  in  the  Territory.  At  this  place  a  log  carpenter-shop  was 
rented  and  fixed  up  for  a  school-room. 

School  opened  ou  the  Ist  of  June,  with  Miss  Marion  B.  Murphy,  of 
Oregon,  as  teacher.  She  reported  an  attendance  for  June  of  75,  of 
whom  3  were  Americans,  10  Creoles,  and  62  natives  ;  July,  46;  August, 

*  Since  the  report  was  written  a  sworn  statement  of  the  unfriendly  attitude  of  the 
court  has  been  received  from  Prof.  A.  J.  Davis.     (See  Appendix  L.) 
t  The  distance  is  reckoned  bv  the  usual  route  traveled. 


26  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

30;  September,  34;  October,  37;  November,  90;  December,  7G;  aud 
January,  67. 

Miss  Miirpby  is  a  member  of  tbe  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

As  the  weather  grew  colder  and  more  stormy  in  the  fall,  it  was  found 
necessary  to  make  still  further  repairs  in  the  school-room. 

Looking  forward  to  the  erection  of  a  suitable  building  in  the  near 
future,  I  selected  a  block  of  land,  with  the  concurrence  of  the  United 
States  commissioner,  and  had  a  cheap  fence  thrown  around  it,  in  order 
to  secure  it  for  school  purposes. 

Juneau  is  one  of  the  eight  post-offices  now  in  Alaska. 

Soonah. 

At  Hoonah,  130*  miles  by  water  north  from  Sitka,  the  fall  term  of  the 
school  opened  on  Tuesday,  September  1, 1885,  with  34  pupils.  No  later 
report  has  been  received.  The  teacher  is  Mrs.  Maggie  Dunbar  McFar- 
land,  wife  of  the  missionary  at  that  place. 

They  are  the  only  white  persons  in  that  section  of  the  country.  The 
attendance  during  the  preceding  winter  (1884-'85)  was  69  boys,  76  girls, 
and  74  adults ;  total,  219. 

This  school  is  among-  a  people  who,  while  residing  in  their  principal 
village  during  the  winter,  in  summer  move  out  to  their  fishing  camps, 
some  of  them  100  miles  away.  During  last  summer  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McFar- 
land  followed  their  people  in  a  canoe,  holding  a  temporary  school  in  the 
larger  places.  This  admirable  and  self-denying  work  kept  fresh  in  the 
minds  of  the  children  the  teaching  they  had  already  received. 

Hoonah  is  about  60  miles  from  a  post-office,  so  that  the  teachers  re- 
ceive their  mail  by  chance  canoes  at  irregular  intervals  during  the  sum- 
mer, and  in  the  winter  not  at  all. 

Fort  Wrangell. 

Three  hundred  and  thirty-three  miles  f  southeast  of  Sitka  is  Fort 
Wrangell.  Here  a  school  was  opened  on  the  1st  day  of  September,  with 
33  pupils.  Miss  Lydia  McA.voy,  teacher  (from  West  Virginia),  reports 
the  attendance  for  tlie  month  at  41,  of  whom  28  were  boys,  9  girls,  and 
4  adults,  composed  of  the  following  nationalities :  1  American,  1  Creole, 
1  French,  3  Norwegian,  8  half-breeds,  and  27  Alaskans.  The  attendance 
for  October  was  53 ;  November,  70 ;  December,  69 ;  and  January,  65. 

Eaiiies. 

Haines  is  200  miles  by  water  north  of  Sitka.  Here  the  school  occu 
pies  the  Mission  building,  and  is  more  comfortably  situated  than  any 
other  public  school  in  Alaska.  The  teacher.  Miss  Sarah  M.  Dickinson, 
is  an  intelligent  half-breed  girl,  educated  at  the  (xovernment  training 
school  at  Forest  Grove,  Oreg.,  and  afterwards  at  Saint  Mary's  Hall,  an 
Episcopal  school  for  young  ladies,  at  Portland,  Oreg.  This  school  at 
present  is  about  100  miles  from  a  post-office,  and  has  no  regular  com- 
munication with  the  outside  world  during  the  long  winter  months. 
Attendance  for  September,  40;  October,  77;  November,  68;  December, 
81;  and  January,  84. 

*  The  distance  is  reckoned  by  the  usual  route  traveled. 
t  Steamship  route  via  Juneau. 


EDUCATION    IN'    ALASKA.  27 

Jaclison. 

This  village  is  533*  miles  by  water  south  of  Sitka.  The  winter  school 
opeued  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  Sei)tenil)er.  Attendance,  September, 
59;  October,  72;  December,  87;  and  January,  77.  The  teacher.  Miss 
piara  A.  Gould,  of  West  Virginia,  resides  with  her  brother,  who  is  the 
missionary  there.  There  is  a  post-office  at  this  place,  and  a  monthly 
mail  is  brought  from  Fort  Wrangell,  about  200  miles,  in  a  canoe,  a  trip 
which  takes  from  tive  to  tifteen  days  each  way,  according  to  the  weather. 

KiUisnoo. 

Killisnoo,  distant  75  miles  by  water  from  Sitka,  is  the  present  center 
of  the  fish-oil  trade  of  Alaska,  and  in  the  neighborhood  of  extensive  coal 
fields  and  some  valuable  gold  mines. 

It  also  has  a  ])ost-office.  Arrangements  are  being  made  to  open  a 
school  at  this  point  in  January,  I886.t 

WESTERN  ALASKA. 

As  there  are  no  public  means  of  intercommunication  with  Western 
Alaska,  instructions  were  issued  by  the  honorable  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy  for  the  U.  S.  S.  Pinta,  stationed  in  Alaska  waters,  to  convey  the 
governor  and  general  agent  of  education  to  the  leading  villages  in  that 
section.  When  Governor  Swiueford,  after  his  appointment,  reached 
Alaska  it  was  too  late  in  the  season  for  the  proposed  trip.  On  this  ac- 
count I  was  unable  to  establish  several  schools  that  had  been  author- 
ized by  you.  However,  arrangements  are  in  progress  that  will  secure 
the  opening  of  these  schools  in  the  early  summer  of  18SG. 

Notwithstanding  my  own  inability  to  reach  this  western  portion  of 
Alaska,  in  September  1  made  an  attemi)t  to  send  a  teacher  to  Kadiak, 
633  miles  distant  by  water.  A  suitable  man  was  found  in  Mr.  Salomon 
Ripinsky,  a  Russian  Hebrew,  who  had  received  a  liberal  European  ed- 
ucation and  was  recommended  by  a  former  superintendent  of  public 
instruction  for  the  State  of  Oregon.  He  was  so  anxious  to  go  that  he 
was  willing  to  take  the  risks  of  the  trip  in  a  small  10-ton  sail  boat.  Be- 
ing loaded  with  desks  and  other  school  supplies,  the  vessel  sailed  from 
Sitka  on  the  7th  of  September.  On  September  10,  in  latitude  57°  45' 
N.,  and  longitude  137°  W.,  the  vessel  sprung  aleak  in  a  storm.  She 
was  headed  for  land,  and  with  great  difficulty  kept  afloat.  Mr.  Ripinsky 
and  the  captain  (the  sole  occupants)  worked  at  the  pumps  day  and 
night  for  life,  until  the  vessel  was  finally  driven  through  the  breakers 
into  Lisianski  Strait  and  beached.  Pumping  the  water  out  and  repair- 
ing vessel  as  best  they  could,  they  again  launched  her  with  the  i)urpose 
of  trying  to  make  Killisnoo.  In  the  storm  at  sea  while  the  waves  were 
rolling  over  the. deck  they  had  lost  much  of  their  provisions,  which  were 
washed  overboard,  and  they  were  reduced  to  great  straits  -by  hunger. 
As  the  vessel  continued  to  leak,  they  were  compelled  to  work  at  the 
pumps.  To  add  to  their  danger  they  were  in  unknown  waters  among 
strange  rocks  and  in  danger  of  being  dashed  to  pieces.  Finally,  after 
sixteen  days  of  battling  with  the  elements  and  hanging  between  life  and 
death,  they  reached  Killisnoo  and  were  safe. 

After  unloading  and  storing  the  school  supplies,  Mr.  Ripinsky  hired 

*  Via  Juneau  and  Fort  Wrangell. 

t  This  school  was  opened  in  February  by  Prof.  George  B.  Johnston,  of  Western  Penn- 
sylvania. 


28  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

a  canoe  with  a  crew  of  uatives,  and  returned  to  Sitka.  The  day  after 
his  retnrn  tlie  stejunshi})  Bonita  reached  Sitka  en  route  to  Unahi.shka 
and  Bering  Sea. 

Availing  myself  of  the  opportunity,  I  changed  the  destination  of  Mr. 
Ripinsky,  with  his  own  approval,  and  sent  him  to  Unalashka,  1,278  miles 
from  Sitka. 

A  small  supply  of  desks,  books,  slates,  &c.,  were  furnished  from  the 
Sitka  school.  In  a  hasty  note,  returned  by  tlie  steamer  that  conveyed 
him  to  his  destination,  he  reports  opening  school  with  45  pupils,  20  boys 
and  25  girls.  Xo  further  news  can  be  expected  from  him  for  the  next 
seven  months,*  as  his  post-office  is  San  Francisco,  2,418  miles  away. 
At  that  office  his  mail  will  continue  to  accumulate  until  next  spring, 
when  some  trading  vessel  going  to  IJnalasbka  will  take  it  to  liim,  and 
returning  will  bring  down  his  communications  to  the  outside  world. 
His  acquaintance  with  the  Kussian  tongue  will  be  of  great  assistance  to 
him  in  that  place,  where  many  understand  the  Russian  and  but  very 
few  the  English  language. 

INTERIOR   ALASKA. 

As  previously  stated,  communication  with  interior  Alaska  is  very  dif- 
ficult. If  I  wish  to  visit  the  school  on  the  Yukon  River,  my  nearest 
way  is  to  take  the  mail  steamer  from  Sitka  to  Juneau,  IGG  miles,  then 
hire  a  canoe  and  natives  to  take  me,  together  with  blankets  and  provi- 
sions, to  the  head  of  Dy.ya  Inlet,  about  100  miles.  Then  leaving  the 
water,  a  fresh  crew  of  natives  is  hired  to  carry  my  supplies  25  miles  on 
foot,  over  a  dangerous  mountain  trail,  to  the  ui)per  waters  of  the  Yukon, 
then  construct  a  raft  and  float  down  the  stream  1,500  miles  to  Nulato, 
or  1,750  miles  to  Anvik.  The  trip  would  occupy  two  mouths.  Another 
practicable  way  is  to  take  the  mail  steamer  to  San  Francisco,  1,600  miles, 
then  a  chance  steamer  to  Saint  Michaels,  3,204  miles,  then  a  small  river 
steamer  that  makes  one  trip  a  year  to  N"uIato,  769  miles,  a  total  distance 
of  5,63^3  miles.  To  make  the  trip  and  return  in  tlie  same  year  would 
require  close  connections. 

If  I  wish  to  visit  the  school  at  Bethel,  I  take  a  mail  steamer  from 
Sitka  to  San  Francisco,  1,600  miles,  then  wait  until  some  vessel  sails  for 
Unalashka,  2,418  miles,  then  wait  again  until  some  trading  vessel  has 
occasion  to  visit  the  mouth  of  the  Kuskokwim  River,  461  miles,  and  go 
from  thence  in  a  bidarka  (sea-i ion-skin  canoe)  150  miles  up  the  river,  a 
total  of  4,629  miles.  By  the  same  tedious  route  the  teachers  receive 
their  annual  mail,  except  that  it  starts  from  San  Francisco. 

YUKON   RIVER. 

For  years  the  Church  Missionary  Society  of  England  has  had  stations 
at  Fort  McPherson  and  La  Pierre  House,  bordering  on  Northeastern 
Alaska,  and  their  missionaries  have  made  occasional  trips  on  the  Upper 
Yukon  and  its  tributaries.     (See  Appendix  H.) 

Among  the  capable  and  energetic  young  men  in  its  employ.  Rev. 
Vincent  0.  Sims  has  manifested  so  much  interest  in  the  i>eople,  such 
endurance  of  hardship,  and  such  adaptation  to  the  work,  that  applica- 
tion was  made  to  the  Board  of  Missions  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 

*  Since  this  report  was  made  the  U.  S.  Revenue  Marine  steamer  Rush  made  a  spe- 
cial trip  to  Bering  Sea  in  search  of  a  missinj;  whaler  and  brought  back  reports  from 
Unalashka  as  late  as  February  1,  ld86.  School  attendance  for  October,  45;  Novem- 
ber, 44;  December,  44;  and  Jaunary,  44. 


KSKIMO    'S'lLLAGE,  ST.    MICHAEL,  ALASKA. 


TRADING   POST,  ST.  MICHAEL,  ALASKA. 
Published  through  the  courtesy  of  Mrs.  Frank  Leslie. 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  29 

Church  to  secure  him  as  teacher  of  a  Government  school  on  the  Yukon 
River.  The  society  has  resijonded  favorably,  and  selected  as  teachers 
Mr.  Sims*  and  Mr.  Kirby,  a  youno-  man  born  in  that  region,  the  son  of 
Archdeacon  W.  W.  Kirby,  an  English  missionary.  Their  final  appoint- 
ment is  dependent  u])on  their  being  released  from  their  present  engage- 
ments by  the  Church  Missionary  Society  of  England. 

BETHEL. 

During  the  summer  of  1884  the  American  branch  of  the  Moravian 
Church  sent  a  commission,  consisting  of  Kev.  A.  Hartman  and  Mr.  Will- 
iam H.  Weiulaud,  to  visit  the  western  section  of  Alaska  in  search  of  a 
suitable  location  for  a  mission  to  the  Eskimo.     (See  Appendix  I.) 

They  left  San  Francisco  May  3, 1884,  reaching  the  mouth  of  the  Kus- 
kokwim  River,  4,479  miles,  on  thel2thof  June.  Leaving  the  steamer  and 
hiring  two  three  holed  bidarkns  (sea-lion-skin  canoes),  with  four  natives 
to  manage  them,  they  ascended  the  river  to  Xa])aimute  300  miles,  visiting 
every  village  by  the  way.  On  the  9th  of  July  they  commenced  their  re- 
turn to  Fort  Alexander,  (300  miles  distant,  which  they  reached  August  8, 
having  been  eight  weeks  m  the  uncomfortable  boat.  From  Fort  Alex- 
ander they  returned  to  Unalashka  by  schooner,  and  from  thence  to  San 
Francisco  by  steamer.  The  result  of  their  exploration  was  the  locating 
of  a  mission  station  150  miles  up  the  Kuskokwim  River,  near  the  native 
village  of  Mumtrekhlagamute.  The  new  station  was  named  Bethel. 
Last  winter  was  spent  by  the  Moravians  in  raising  the  funds  to  com- 
mence the  mission.  It  was  found  necessary  to  have  a  special  boat  n^ade 
for  use  on  the  river,  also  to  purchase  in  San  Francisco  the  lumber,  sashes, 
doors,  hardware,  furniture.  &c.,  for  the  mission  buildings,  to  lay  in  a 
year's  supply  of  provisions,  medicines,  and  other  necessaries,  and  charter 
a  schooner  to  take  the  supplies  to  the  month  of  the  river.  <  n\  the  18th 
day  ofJVIay,  1885,  the  party,  consisting  of  Rev.  William  H.  Weinland  and 
Rev.  J.  H.  Killbuck  (Delaware  Indian),  and  their  wives,  with  Mr.  John 
Torgerson,  mechanic  and  lay  assistant,  sailed  from  San  Francisco,  reach- 
ing the  mouth  of  the  Kuskokwim  on  the  19th  of  June.  They  at  once 
set  about  the  transporting  of  the  building  materials  and  supplies  to 
Bethel  in  their  small  boat.  Reports  have  been  received  from  them  as 
late  as  August  12,  at  which  time  they  were  still  bus}-  in  bringing  up 
material. 

On  the  10th  of  August  the  mission  met  with  a  great  loss  in  the  acci- 
dental di'owning  of  Mr.  Torgeison,  who,  passing  aft  on  the  deck  of  their 
little  boat;  slipped  and  fell  into  the  river.  Ropes  and  i)lanks  were  im- 
mediately thrown  to  him,  but,  being  heavily  clothed,  the  swift  current 
swept  him  under. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Weinland  has  been  ajipointed  teacher  of  the  Government 
school,  but  as  they  have  communication  with  the  outside  world  only 
once  a  year,  no  rei)orts  can  be  expected  from  him  before  the  iall  of  188G. 

He  has  also  been  commissioned  by  the  Government  to  establish  and 
maintain  a  Signal  Service  station  at  that  point. 

NUSHAGAK   RIVEE. 

A  contract  has  been  entered  into  with  the  Moravians  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  school  at  Fort  Alexander.  The  teachers  selected  are  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  F.  E.  Wolff  and  Miss  B.  Bradley,  M.  D.  The  buildings  are 
to  be  erected  this  coming  summer  and  the  school  commenced  in  1887. 

*  Since  this  report  was  writteu  uews  lias  beeu  received  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Sims. 
Kev.  Octavius  Parker,  au  Episcopal  clergyniau  in  Oregon,  has  been  selected  to  take 
his  place.     He  will  be  stationed  at  Saint  Alichaels. 


30  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

THE   PRIBILOFF   ISLANDS. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  1870,  Congress  leased  for  twenty  years  to  the 
Alaska  Oomoiercial  Company  the  islands  of  Saint  Paul  and  Saint  George 
in  Bering  Sea.  By  the  terms  of  the  lease  the  company  is  bound  to 
maintain  a  school  on  each  island  for  eight  months  in  each  year. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  the  United  States  Treasury  Department,  we 
are  able  to  give  full  educational  reports  from  those  islands.  (See  Ap- 
pendix G.)  From  these  reports  it  will  be  seen  that  earnest  efforts  are 
being  made  to  educate  and  civilize  the  natives;  that  school  attendance 
is  obligatory,  and  98  per  cent,  of  the  children  of  school  age  are  reported 
in  attendance. 

INDUSTRIAL   TRAINING. 

Into  all  these  schools,  with  the  exception  of  those  on  the  Pribiloff 
Islands,  which  are  not  under  control  of  this  Bureau,  industrial  exer- 
cises are  being  introduced  as  rapidly  as  possible.  Arrangements  are 
already  provided  by  which  the  girls  on  two  afternoons  of  each  week  shall 
be  instructed  in  sewing  and  kitchen  work,  and  plans  are  under  way  for 
a  similar  training  of  boys  in  the  use  of  tools.  This  is  but  a  beginning. 
As  the  purpose  of  the  school  is  to  develop  an  intelligent  and  useful 
citizenship,  they  will  need  more  and  more  to  extend  their  industrial 
facilities.  As  the  people  make  progress,  catch  the  spirit  of  civilization, 
and  come  under  the  influences  which  emanate  from  the  schools,  they 
gradually  begin  to  give  up  their  old  methods  of  living  and  adopt  the 
American.  This  is  especially  the  case  among  the  native  and  semi-civil- 
ized population.  One  by  one  they  saw  out  an  opening  in  the  window- 
less  walls  of  their  houses  and  insert  sash  and  glass.  One  after  another 
purchases  a  cook  stove.  Xo  longer  content  to  eat  off  the  floor  out  of  a 
common  iron  pot,  tables  and  dishes,  knives  and  forks  are  procured. 
Then  comes  a  bedstead,  and  the  bedding  is  taken  from  the  floor.  Warm, 
comfortable  store  clothes  take  the  place  of  the  inconvenient,  uncomfort- 
able blanket.  Thus  slowly  and  gradually  througlj  the  influence  of  the 
schools  the  population  is  raised  in  the  scale  of  civilization.  But  all  this 
creates  a  necessity  for  a  larger  income  and  more  remunerative  employ- 
ments. The  income  that  was  sufficient  when  the  family  ate  off  the 
ground  without  dishes,  cooked  over  a  fire  without  a  chimney,  and  slept 
on  the  floor  under  skins  of  wild  beasts,  is  not  sufficient  to  purchase 
cook  stoves,  dishes,  tables,  chairs,  bedsteads,  &c.  Therefore  to  create 
the  want  without  enabling  them  to  supply  it,  is  only  to  make  them  more 
miserable. 

As  instruction  necessarily  creates  new  wants,  and  is  so  intended  by 
the  Government,  it  is  but  proper  that  instruction  should  go  farther  and 
so  train  the  hand  that  the  newly  created  wants  can  be  supplied.  Or, 
in  other  words,  the  work  of  the  Alaska  school  system  is  not  only  to 
teach  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic,  but  also  how  to  live  better,  how 
to  make  more  money  in  order  to  live  better,  and  how  to  utilize  the  re- 
sources of  the  country  in  order  to  make  more  money. 

The  sj^ecial  resources  of  Alaska,  in  addition  to  her  fur-bearing  ani- 
mals, are  her  vast  supply  of  fish  and  minerals,  and  in  the  southeastern 
section,  great  forests.  There  will  also  in  the  southeastern  section  be  more 
and  more  the  production  of  garden  vegetables  and  the  smaller  fruits. 
Therefore,  her  schools  should  eventually  teach  the  best  methods  of  ex- 
tracting stumps,  grading  and  ditching  land  and  preparing  it  for  culti- 
vation, the  vegetables  best  adapted  to  the  country  and  the  best  method 
of  cultivating  them,  the  berries  and  fruits  best  adapted  to  the  climate, 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  31 

ancl  bow  they  should  be  treated,  tree  planting  and  grafting,  the  devel- 
opment of  the  native  fruits,  also  cattle,  hog,  and  poultry  raising,  and 
butter  and  cheese  making  in  regions  along  the  warm  southern  coast. 

The  rising  young  men  of  Alaska  should  be  taught  the  cutting  and 
rafting  of  logs,  the  running  of  saw-mills,  carpentering,  coopering,  furni- 
ture making,  and  all  kinds  of  wood-working.  To  this  thej*  will  take 
readily  and  naturally,  for  they  and  their  fathers  before  them  have  been 
noted  for  their  skill  in  certain  mechanical  arts,  the  manufacture  of 
canoes,  and  carving  wood,  stone,  and  metal  with  their  rude,  native 
tools. 

As  fish  is  another  of  the  commercial  commodities  of  the  country,  and 
one  which  will  iurnish  its  inhabitants  with  an  ample  and  reliable  means 
of  support,  the  boys  should  be  instructed  in  the  names,  habits,  and 
commercial  value  of  the  various  kinds  of  fish  found*  in  their  waters, 
improved  methods  of  taking  and  preparing  them  for  market,  the  making 
and  mending  of  nets,  the  management  and  repair  of  boats,  rope-si)licing 
and  sail-making,  swimming,  and  naval  drill,  with  some  instruction  in 
the  tides  and  in  the  use  of  the  compass.  They  should  also  be  taught 
how  to  treat  accidents,  such  as  gunshot  wounds  and  drowning. 

The  girls  should  be  familiarized  with  the  use  of  kitchen  utensils  and 
exercised  in  the  best  methods  of  cooking  ineats,  fish,  and  vegetables, 
the  preparation  of  corned,  smoked,  and  pickled  meats  and  fish,  the  dry- 
ing and  preserving  of  berries  and  care  of  winter  vegetables,  making 
yeast  and  baking  bread,  the  care  of  milk  with  butter  and  cheese  mak- 
ing, the  proper  care  of  storeroom  and  pantrj^,  the  setting,  waiting  upon, 
and  clearing  off"  tables,  orderly  arrangement  of  furniture  and  simple 
adorning  of  walls,  cleaning  and  care  of  lamps,  cutting  and  making  of 
clothes,  changing,  mending,  and  i)atching  of  garments,  knitting  and 
darning  of  socks,  practice  on  the  sewing-machine,  washing  and  ironing, 
making  of  lye,  «oft  soap,  starch,  &c. 

MORAL   TRAINING. 

The  training  of  the  schools  should  be  extended  to  the  heart  as  well  as 
mind  and  hand.  In  sections  of  Alaska  the  uncivilized  natives  are  ac- 
customed to  herd  in  large  houses,  with  several  families  occupying  the 
same  room  and  cooking  around  a  common  fire.  Among  some  of  these 
families  polygamy  prevails,  and  sometimes,  not  often,  a  woman  is  found 
with  two  or  more  husbands.  The  children  grow  up  amid  filth  and  un- 
cleanliness,  accustomed  to  impure  sights  and  conversation,  and  system- 
atically taught  to  lie  and  steal.  To  them  there  is  no  wrong  or  disgrace 
in  it.  It  is  onlj^  disgraceful  in  being  caught,  as  that  seems  to  be  a  re- 
flection on  their  skill ;  they  should  have  been  smarter.  Nephews  in- 
herit their  uncle's  wives  and  his  property  as  well,  so  that  many  a  boy 
is  married  to  a  toothless  old  aunt.  In  these  same  homes  are  taught,  and 
sometimes  even  yet  practiced,  the  horrible  cruelties  of  witchcraft. 

In  some  of  the  schools  nearly  all  of  the  children  come  from  such  abodes ; 
and  the  teacher  that  would  be  true  to  his  mission  and  accomi)lish  the 
most  good  must  give  prominence  to  moral  as  well  as  intellectual  in- 
struction. He  must  try  to  educate  them  out  of  and  away  from  the 
training  of  their  home-life.  They  need  to  be  taught  that  both  the  law 
of  God  and  the  law  of  the  land  forbid  more  than  one  man  and  one 
woman  living  together  as  husband  and  wife,  that  each  family  should 
have  a  separate  home,  however  small,  that  lying,  stealing,  and  impurity 
of  speech  and  behavior  are  alike  offenses  against  God  and  man,  and 
that  these  vices  are  not  only  destructive  to  society  but  a  disgrace  to 


32  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

themselves.  The  education  deinaiidod  in  Ahiskais  the  moral,  intellect- 
ual, and  physical  training-  of  the  i)eo])le  at  one  and  the  same  time— the 
gradual  ni)lifting  of  the  whole  man.  All  of  tliis  may  not  be  attainable 
at  once,  or  even  ultimately  in  every  one  of  the  schools.  But  a  begin- 
ning can  be  made  in  all  of  them,  and  the  brightest  and  most  promising- 
children  can  be  a<lvanced  into  the  larger  training  schools,  where  they 
can  be  taught  trades  and  ])re|)ared  to  earn  a  <'omj)etent  support. 

One  snch  higher  school  is  in  existen(;e  at  Sifka,  and  it  is  i)roposed  to 
establish  a  second  at  Unalasliiva,  1,278  miles  farther  west. 

OBLIGATORY    ATTENDANCE. 

The  schools  of  Alaska  are  estal)lished,  with  but  two  or  three  excep- 
tions, among  a  half-civilized  peoi)]e.  It  has  long  been  known  in  educa- 
tional circles  that  the  greater  the  ignorance  and  the  lower  the  condition 
of  parents,  the  less  they  ai>l>reciate  the  importance  of  ed negation  for 
their  children,  and  the  greater  the  need  of  outside  jtressure  to  oblige 
them  to  send  their  children  legularly  to  school.  It  is  of  no  use  to  es- 
tablish schools  if  the  child i en  do  not  attend,  and  many  will  not  attend 
unless  it  is  made  obligatory  on  them.  This  is  true  of  many  in  enlight- 
ened communities  and  much  more  so  in  uncivilized  ones.  If  Congress 
wisely  provides  school  facilities  for  the  children  of  Alaska,  it  should 
go  farther  and  make  their  attendance  at  those  schools  obligatory,  for  in 
no  other  way  can  the  best  results  of  the  appropriation  be  secured,  and 
in  no  other  way  can  the  highest  interests  of  the  children  themselves  be 
subserved.  Such  laws  have  been  enacted  in  the  States  of  California, 
Connecticut,  Illinois,  Kansas,  Maine,  Massachusetts,  Michigan,  Nevada, 
New  Hampshire,  New  Jersey,  New  York,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  Rhode 
Island,  Vermont,  and  Wisconsin;  also  in  the  Territories  of  Arizona, 
Dakota,  New  Mexico,  Washington,  and  Wyoming;  also  in  the  District 
of  Columbia.  In  foreign  lands  compulsory-attendance  laws  exist,  in 
England,  Scotland,  France,  Germauj',  Austria,  Uuugary,  Italy,  Sweden, 
Denmark,  Switzerland,  Roumelia,  and  Japan.  These  laws  have  not 
only  increased  the  attendance  upon  the  schools,  but  also  greatly  in- 
creased the  prosperity  and  welfare  of  the  states  enforcing  them. 

Alaska,  without  a  territorial  legislature  to  enact  laws,  appeals  directly 
to  Congress  for  a  judicious  law  making  attendance  upon  the  Govern- 
ment schools  obligatory. 

SCHOOL   BUILDINGS. 

On  account  of  the  small  appropriation  made  for  the  commencement 
of  schools  in  Alaska,  it  was  not  deemed  wise  to  attempt  much  in  the 
way  of  building.  As  a  consequence,  not  a  single  Government  school 
in  Alaska  owns  the  building  it  occupies,  and,  with  but  two  exceptions, 
not  a  single  school  has  a  comfortable  building  adapted  to  its  necessities. 

The  present  Congress  should  be  asked  to  so  enlarge  its  appropriation 
for  education  that  suitable  buildings  can  be  erected  this  coming  season 
at  Sitka,  Wiangell,  Juneau,  KiLlisnoo,  Klawack,  Kadiak,  Unalashka, 
Belkotiski,  and  Unga. 

TRANSPORTATION. 

As  is  well  known  to  the  Department,  there  is  no  public  way  of  reach- 
ing the  settlements  of  Alaska  west  of  Sitka.  It  was  expected  last  sum- 
mer that  transportation  would  be  furnished  by  the  U.  S.  S.  Pinta.  Cir- 
cumstances prevented  her  expected  cruise.  Arrangements  for  the  trip 
this  coming  summer  should  be  more  definitely  fixed,  and  provision  made 
not  only  for  the  general  agent,  but  also  for  such  teachers,  together  with 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  33 

tbeir  families  and  supplies,  as  may  be  sent.  If  satisfactory  arrange- 
ments cannot  be  made  with  the  Navy  Department,  then  I  would  recom- 
mend the  charter  of  a  suitable  schooner  with  auxiliary  steam  i)ower. 
As  it  is  at  present,  of  the  fourieen  ])laces  where  schools  exist  or  are 
soon  to  be  established,  only  four  can  be  reached  by  the  monthly  mail 
steamer.  If  a  monthly,  or  even  a  quarterly,  mail  line  could  be  estab- 
lished between  Sitka  and  Unalashka,  then  five  additional  schools  could 
be  reached  with  regularity. 

SCHOOL    SUPPLIES. 

The  extension  of  the  mail  line  to  CJnalashka  would  also  greatly  assist 
in  furnishing  the  several  schools  with  requisite  supplies.  So  far,  on 
account  of  difiBculty  of  transportation,  but  limited  sui)plies  have  been 
attempted.  Those  sent  to  Haines  were  carried  200  miles  in  a  frail  log 
canoe  not  over  2^  feet  wide  and  2  feet  deep ;  those  to  Hoonab,  130  miles, 
and  those  to  Jackson,  200  miles,  also  by  canoes.  The  attempt  to  send 
to  Kadiak,  G33  miles,  in  a  small  schooner,  resulted  in  disaster  and  great 
danger  to  life. 

Four  of  the  schools  can  receive  no  further  supplies  until  next  summer. 

Owing  to  the  distance  and  expense  of  transporting  school  seats  from 
the  States  (2,000  to  3,000  miles),  by  direction  of  the  Department  I  gave 
the  contract  for  making  desks  and  blackboards  to  the  superintendent 
of  the  training-school  at  Sitka,  Alaska.  The  Government  receives  a 
good,  substantial  desk,  the  school  is  encouraged  by  securing  funds  for 
the  purchase  of  additional  tools  and  machinery,  and  the  boys  are  stim- 
ulated by  the  thought  that  they  are  not  playing  work,  but  really  ac- 
complishing something. 

TEACHERS. 

In  accordance  with  the  instructions  of  the  Department  only  those  of 
the  higher  grade  of  certificates  have  been  employed  as  permanent 
teachers.  In  some  instances  teachers  of  less  skill  have  been  employed 
temporarily  until  others  can  be  procured. 

In  a  few  places,  where  they  can  have  a  home  in  a  private  family,  it 
will  be  proper  to  employ  unmarried  ladies;  but  in  the  larger  number 
of  places  the  teacher  should  be  a  married  man  and  accompanied  by  his 
wife.  Especially  is  this  the  case  in  the  native  villages,  where  the  school 
aims  to  lift  the  whole  community  out  of  their  old  tnethods  into  those  oi 
civilization.  In  such  communities  a  well-ordered  household  is  an  object 
lesson  of  great  power. 

teachers'  institute. 

The  circumstances  of  a  teacher  separated  from  all  others  for  tw^elve 
months,  among  a  half-civilized  people  using  a  foreign   tonyue,  are  so 
peculiar  that  it  is  not  strange  that  they  find  a  want  not  fully  supplied 
by  the  training  of  the  best  normal  schools,  nor  would  it  be  strange 
they  became  greatly  depressed  in  their  work. 

I  consider  it,  therefore,  of  great  importance  to  hold  a  two  weeks'  in 
stitute,  that  an  opi)ortunity  be  given  them  of  assembling  once  a  year 
to  cheer  one  another,  compare  views,  discuss  methods,  and  glean  from 
the  experience  of  those  similarly  situated  with  themselves.  The  rea- 
sons which  make  teachers'  institutes  so  essential  and  useful  in  the  older 
sections  of  the  country  operate  here  with  greatly  added  power.  During 
7018  AL 3 


34 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 


the  long  summer  vacation  some  of  the  teachers  in  Southeastern  Alaska, 
at  least,  can  be  assembled  at  an  institute,  and  I  would  recommend  that 
a  small  sum  for  expenses  be  allowed  out  of  the  school  appropriation. 

CO-OPERATION   WITH   RELIGIOUS  BODIES. 

As  some  of  the  great  missionary  organizations  of  the  United  States 
have  commenced  work  in  this  vast  Territory,  and  others  are  preparing 
to  do  so,  it  has  been  deemed  wise  to  arrange  with  them  for  co-operation 
in  the  work  of  establishing  schools.  Where  the  teacher  and  the  mis- 
sionary and  their  famiWes  are  the  only  white  people  in  a  large  section 
of  country — the  only  rei)resentatives  of  the  civilization  of  the  States 
and  dependent  upon  one  another  for  assistance  in  times  of  sickness,  for 
encouragement,  and  for  society  in  their  isolation — it  is  simple  common 
sense  to  believe  that  the  more  congenial  they  are,  and  the  more  fully 
they  hold  common  views,  the  more  efficient  and  successful  each  will  be 
in  his  sei)arate  work.  Hence,  whenever  a  missionary  organization  has 
been  alone  in  a  large  section  it  has  seemed  right  as  far  as  possible  to  se- 
lect teachers  from  that  communion,  it  being  distinctly  understood  by 
the  several  missionary  organizations  that  it  is  the  purpose  of  the  Gov- 
ernment to  provide  non-sectarian  instruction  in  the  public  schools  and 
leave  all  persons  to  the  fullest  exercise  of  their  religious  liberty.  Assur- 
ances of  their  desire  to  co  operate  with  the  Government  in  the  schools 
have  been  received  from  the  Episcopal,  Moravian,  Methodist,  Baptist, 
Presbyterian,  and  Congregational  bodies.  Interviews  have  also  been 
held  with  the  lepresentatives  of  the  Roman  Catholic  body.  Up  to  the 
present  time,  however,  arrangements  have  been  effected  and  work  com- 
menced only  by  the  Episcopalians,  Presbyterians,  and  Moravians.  Co- 
operation with  others  is  hoped  for  during  the  coming  season. 

NATIONAL   AID   TO   EDUCATION  AND   ITS   BEARING   ON   ALASKA. 


In  view  of  the  coming  discussion  in  Congress  of  the  "Blair  bill,"  I 
deem  it  important  to  offer  the  following  preliminary  estimate  respecting 
the  illiterate  population  of  Alaska  between  the  ages  of  10  and  20  years, 
both  inclusive,  and  to  recite  the  considerations  which  have  led  me  to 
the  conclusion  below  set  forth. 

Mr.  Ivan  Petroff^s  enumeration  of  the  population  of  Alaska  (page  33 
of  his  special  report,  in  United  States  Census  of  1880,  Vol.  VIII)  is  as 
follows : 


Divisions. 

Total. 

"White. 

Creole. 

Eskimo. 

Aleut. 

Atha- 
baskan. 

Thlinget. 

Hydah. 

3,094 
6  870 

3,094 
4,276 
8,036 

18 

3 

82 

34 

293 

19 
111 

479 
917 
230 

2,557 

255               .'iOfi 

8  911 

2,451 
4,352 

7,748 

1  ftPO 

2,2li    '- 

864 

326 
6,437 

[ 

788 

Total 

33,  426 

430 

1,756 

17, 617 

2, 145           3,  927 

6,763 

788 

Mr.  Petroftdoes  not  discriminate  between  the  sexes  or  the  several 
ages  of  the  po|)ulation;  but  we  may  assume  that  the  conditions  as  to 
sex  do  not  cliffer  materially  from  those  existing  in  the  adjacent  "terri- 
tories and  Arctic  islands"  belonging  to  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  where 
the  British  census  of  1881  reported  28,113  males  and  28,333  lemales. 
The  partial  returns  made  by  K-ussian  officials  from  1818  to  1861,  quoted 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 


35 


in  Mr.  Petroff's  paper,  give  nearly  the  same  proportion  of  the  sexes, 
each  being  about  half  tlie  population. 

The  proportion  of  minors  to  adults,  as  understood  by  the  officials  of 
the  United  States  census  and  by  statistical  writers  of  recent  date  in 
this  country,  is  not  indicated  by  any  of  the  statistics  quoted  by  Mr. 
Petroff.  The  nearest  approach  to  such  a  distinction  is  that  made  in  the. 
partial  census  of  1839  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  and  quoted  on  pp> 
3G,  37  of  Mr.  Petroff's  report.  The  free  natives  thus  reported  numbered 
4,121  "adults"  and  2,439  "children";  but  the  circumstances  of  that  cen- 
sus indicate  that  stature,  strength,  and  child-producing  capacity  may 
have  had  much  more  to  do  with  the  assignment  of  many  individuals- 
to  the  "adults"  rather  than  to  the  "children." 

I,  for  these  reasons,  venture  to  estimate  the  population  of  Alaska  as. 
to  age  by  the  enumeration  of  the  population  of  Washington  Territory j, 
the  organized  Territory  nearest  to  Alaska,  with  the  following  result : 


Minors  under  10, 

Minors,  10  to  20. 

Adults,  21  and  over. 

1     e,'-' 

1      P^ 

Number. 

Per 
cent. 

Number. 

Per 

cent. 

Number. 

Per 
cent. 

75  116 

19,  396 
8  631 

1    25.8 

15  -553 

) 

40, 167 
17  874 

1     53.5 

Alaska 

33'  426 

6  921     I   ■'^"•'^ 

In  the  year  1880  the  condition  of  affairs  was  about  as  follows : 
The  430  whites  mentioned  in  Mr.  Petrofl's  enumeration  were  fairly- 
instructed  adults;  about  800  of  the  Creoles,  or  Russo-Alaskans,  men- 
tioned were  able  to  write,  nearly  all  of  these  being  adults. 

Of  the  Alaskan  races  I  estimate  that  the  number  able  to  write  was 
as  follows:  Aleuts,  500;  Thlinget,  200;  Hydah,  100;  making  800  more 
such  jiersons.  There  were,  therefore,  about  2,030  persons  to  be  de- 
ducted from  the  estimated  population  ten  or  more  years  old,  leaving 
22,765  persons  ten  or  more  years  old  unable  to  write  at  that  time. 


STATISTICS. 

SCHOOL  AT  JUNEAU. 
[Miss  Marion  B.  Murphy,  teacher.] 


Monthly  attendance. 

Date. 

Total 
attendance. 

Average 
attendance. 

Boys. 

Girls. 

Adults. 

June,  1885 

75 
46 
30 
34 
37 
90 
76 
69 
72 
74 
52 
41 
32 

47 
.    25 
17 
19 
21 
45 
50 
36 
37 
38 
36 
26 
23 

40 
23 
18 
18 
22 
51 
41 
41 
43 
43 
28 
21 
15 

35 
23 
12 
16 
15 
39 
35 
28 
29 
31 
24 
20 
17 

July,  1885 

Augnst,  1885 

September,  1885 

October,  1885 

December,  1885 

January,  1886 

February,  1886 

March,  1886 

April,  1886 

Mav,  1886 

Juiie,  1886 

M 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 


Statistics — Continued. 

SCHOOL  K^O.  1,  SITKA. 

[Miss  Margaret  Powell,  teacher.] 


Date. 


June,  1885 

July,  1885 

August,  1885  ... 
September,  1885 
•October,  1885  . . . 
November.  1885 
December,  1885. 
January,  1886  .. 
February,  1886  . 

March,  1886 

April,  1886 

May,  1886 

■Jnne,  1886 


Monthly  attendance. 


Total      i    Average        Bovs 
attendance,  attendance.      ""j°- 


Girls. 


SCHOOL  AT  FORT  WRANGELL. 

[Miss  Lydia  McAvoy,  teacher.] 


September,  1885 41 

•October,  1885 53 

November,  1885 70 

December,  1885 69 

January,  1886 65 

February.  1886 67 

March,  1886 47 

April,  1886 35 

Mav,  1886 39 

June,  1886 ,  33 


28 

9 

27 

18  i 

34 

27  1 

33 

30  1 

33 

26  1 

35 

25  ! 

26 

21 

16 

18 

18 

19 

15 

17 

SCHOOL  AT  JACKSON. 
[Miss  Clara  Gonld,  teacher.] 


September,  1885 i  59 

October,  1885 1  78 

November,  1885 76 

December.  1885 i  87 

January,  1886 1  77 

Februarv,  1886 ;  84 

March,  1886 35 

April,  1886 30 

May,  1886 |  13 


20 

30 

36 

30 

29 

29 

37 

33 

30 

30 

31 

35 

15 

13 

16 

10 

5 

7 

SCHOOL  AT  HAINES. 
[Miss  Sarah  M.  Dickinson,  teacher.] 


September,  1885 
October,  1885... 
November,  1885 
December,  1885. 
January,  1886  .. 
Februarv,  1886  . 
March,  1886  .... 

April,  1886 

May,  1886 


40 
77 
68 
81 
84 
88 
91 
106 
106 


13 

10 

8 

26 

22 

19 

53 

29 

25 

74 

35 

27 

73 

36 

26 

77 

36 

26 

78 

37 

28 

82 

43 

37 

58 

43 

37 

EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 


3T 


statistics — Coutiuued. 

HOONAH  SCHOOL. 

[John  W.  McFarland,  teacher.] 


Date. 


September,  1885  . 
October,  1885*  .. 
November,  1885  . 
December,  1885.. 
January,  1886  .. 
February,  1886  . . 
March,  1886t 


Monthly  attendance. 


Total      I    Average 
attendance,  attendance. 


39 


101 
117 
115 
115 


19 


Boys. 


Girls. 


Adults.. 


*  No  school  on  account  of  a  drunken  spree  of  the  natives. 
Total  enroTleraent  up  to  March  3  was  165. 

SCHOOL  AT  UNALASHKA. 

[Salomon  Rlpinsky,  teacher.] 


t  Estimated. 


October,  1885... 

November,  1885 
December,  1885. 
January,  1886  .. 
February,  1886  . 
March,  1886  ... 

April,  1886 

May,  1886    

June,  1886 


SCHOOL  AT  SITKA,  NO.  2. 
[Miss  Kate  A.  Rankin  teacher  to  March  J 5,  1886 ;  Miss  Elizabeth  Pattou  teacher  after  March  15, 1886.]} 


December,  1885 77 

January,  1886 77 

February,  1886 76 

March,  1886 56 

April,  1886 56 

May,  1886 53 

June,  1886 1  48 


SCHOOL  AT  KILLISNOO. 
[George  B.  Johnston,  teacher.] 


February,  1886 
March,  i886  ... 
April,  1886.... 

May,  1886 

June,  1886 


12 
10 
11 
4 
8 


Summary 

of  monthly 

attendance 

at  the  publ 

ic  schools  in  Alaska — 1H85-' 

86. 

Place. 

<D 

a 

i-s 

1 

i 

> 

i 

a 

1-5 

^ 

a 

P. 

& 

a 

i 

75 
17 

46 
31 

30 
22 

34 
22 
41 
59 
40 

37 
26 
53 

78 
77 
45 

90 
34 
70 
76 
68 
44 

76 
31 
69 
87 
81 
44 
77 
101 

67 
43 
65 

77 
84 
44 
77 
117 

72 
44 
07 
84 
88 
43 
76 
115 

74 
43 
47 
35 
91 
40 
56 
165 

.52 
37 
35 
30 
106 
36 
56 

41 
51 
39 
13 
106 
35 
53 

sz 

Sitka,  No.  1 

46- 
33- 

35. 

Sitka  No  2 

48- 

39 

68 

50 
58 

30 

58 

34 

24 

3? 

1 

38  EDUCATION    IN   ALASKA. 

"  In  counectiou  with  this  report  I  have  the  honor  of  inclosing  you  sev- 
eral important  papers.  As  they  furnish  valuable  information  concern- 
ing the  history  aud  progress  of  school  work  in  this  section  and  some  of 
the  conditions  which  more  or  less  modify  it,  I  would  recommend  that 
they  be  printed  as  an  ajipendix. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  the  United  States  Coast  and  Geodetic  Sur- 
vey I  inclose  two  maps  to  accompany  the  report.  These  maps  are  the 
only  ones  in  existence  that  give  the  location  of  all  the  schools.  As  they 
embody  the  late  explorations  of  Lieutenant  Kay,  1881-83;  Lieutenant 
Schwatka,  1883;  Lieutenant  Stoney,  1883-85;  and  Lieutenant  Allen, 
1885,  they  will  be  of  great  interest  to  the  public  and  prove  an  important 
contribution  to  geographical  history. 

I  also  inclose  a  few  photographic  illustrations,  showing  the  location 
of  some  of  the  schools,  the  appearance  of  the  Eskimo  on  the  Kuskokwim 
River,  and  their  surroundings. 

Thanking  you  for  the  firm  and  intelligent  support  you  have  given  me, 
I  remain,  with  great  respect,  yours  truly, 

SUELDON  JACKSON. 

General  Agent. 

The  Hon.  Commissioner  of  Education, 

Washington,  I).  C. 


Appendix  A. 

CIVIL   GOVERNMENT  FOR   ALASKA. 
[Extract  from  the  report  of  the  Commissioner  of  Education,  1882-'83,  pages  xlv  and  xlvi.] 

As  this  report  is  going  through  the  press,  the  House  of  Representatives,  on  the  14th 
of  May,  1884,  passed  the  Senate  bill  providing  a  civil  government  for  Alaska,  which 
■was  signed  by  the  President  on  the  17th. 

This  act  creates  a  governor  at  a  salary  of  $3,000,  a  judge  at  $3,000,  a  distiict  attor- 
ney at  $2,500,  a  marshal  at  $"2,500,  a  clerk  at  $2,500,  four  commissioners  at  $1,000  each 
and  fees,  and  four  deputy  marshals  at  $750  each  and  fees. 

These  officers  are  appointed  by  the  President,  with  the  exception  of  the  deputy  mar- 
shals, who  are  appointed  by  the  marshal. 

The  seat  of  government  is  established  at  Sitka.  The  four  commissioners  and  four 
deputy  marshals  are  to  reside  respectively  at  Sitka,  Wrangell,  Juneau,  and  IJnalashka. 

The  laws  of  Oregon,  so  far  as  applicable,  are  extended  over  the  district.  A  term  of 
the  district  court  is  to  be  held  each  year  at  Sitka,  commencing  on  the  first  Monday 
of  May,  and  one  at  Wrangell,  beginning  on  the  first  Monday  in  November.  No  pro- 
Tision  is  made  for  a  Territorial  legislature  or  a  delegate  in  Congress.  The  general 
land  laws  of  the  United  States  ar«  not  extended  over  the  country.  The  squatter 
rights  of  Indians  and  others  are  recognized.  Mission  stations  are  continue<l  in  the 
occupancy  of  the  640  acres  now  claimed  by  them.  The  owners  of  mining  claims  can 
perfect  their  titles  in  the  usual  way. 

The  governor  is  required  to  inquire  into  the  operations  of  the  Alaska  Commercial 
Company  and  annually  report  to  Congress  the  result  of  such  inquiries  aud  any  and 
all  violations  by  said  company  of  the  agreement  existing  between  the  United  States 
and  said  company. 

The  Secrerary  of  the  Interior  is  directed  to  select  two  of  the  oliQcers,  who,  together 
with  the  governor,  shall  constitute  a  commission  to  examine  into  and  rejiort  u])on  the 
condition  of  the  Indians  residing  in  said  Territory  ;  what  lands,  if  any,  should  be  re- 
served for  their  use  ;  what  provision  shall  be  made  for  their  education  ;  what  rights 
by  occupation  of  settlers  should  be  recognized,  and  all  other  facts  that  may  be  neces- 
sary to  enable  Congress  to  determine  what  limitations  or  conditions  should  be  im- 
posed when  the  land  laws  of  the  I'nited  States  shall  be  extended  to  said  district. 

The  importation,  manufacture,  and  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  in  said  district,  ex- 
cept for  medicinal,  mechanical,  and  scientific  purposes,  are  prohibited. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Interior  is  directed  to  make  needful  and  proper  provision  for 
the  education  of  the  children  of  school  age  in  the  Territory  of  Alaska,  without  ref- 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  39 

erence  to  race,  until  such  time  as  permanent  provision  shall  be  made  for  the  same, 
and  the  sura  of  l|25,000  is  appropriated  for  this  purpose. 

Thus,  after  seventeen  years  of  delay,  a  government  has  been  secured  for  Alaska.  In 
respect  to  this  successful  result  this  liureau  has  endeavored  to  do  its  whole  duty  by 
obtaining  trustworthy  information  in  regard  to  the  condition  of  the  inhabitants  and 
their  educational  needs,  and  by  furnishing  it  to  the  Government  officers  and  to  the 
people.  In  this  etfort  Prof.  W.  H.  Dall,  of  the  United  States  Coast  Survey,  and  Rev. 
G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.  D.,  of  Oregon,  were  especially  helpful. 

The  report  of  this  office  for  1870  had  a  notice  of  education  in  Alaska,  and  year  after 
year  these  notices  were  continued  as  data  warranted. 

In  1876  the  Commissioner  of  Education,  as  representative  of  the  Department  of  the 
Interior,  expended  a  portion  of  the  funds  at  his  control  to  secure  a  representation  of 
native  life  in  Alaska  for  the  Centennial  Exposition  at  Philadelphia. 

In  February,  188'2,  a  special  report  from  this  office  on  Education  in  Alaska,  recom- 
mending an  appropriation  of  #50,000  for  schools,  was  made  to  the  Secretary  of  the  In- 
terior, and  by  him  forwarded  to  Congress  through  the  President. 

In  1877  Rev.  Sheldon  Jackson,  D.  D.,  superintendent  of  Presbyterian  missions  for 
the  Rocky  Mountain  Territories,  having  had  his  attention  called  to  Alaska,  visited 
the  southeastern  portion,  and  established  the  tirst  American  school  in  that  section  on 
the  10th  o  f  August,  1877,  with  Mrs.  A.  R.  McFarland  as  teacher.  Later,  he  established 
schools  at  Sitka,  Haines  (Chilkats),  Boyd  (Hoonah'*),  and  Jackson  (Hydahs).  Re- 
turning to  the  States,  Dr.  Jackson  commenced  an  agitation  to  arouse  the  dormant 
public  sentiment  of  the  country  in  behalf  of  a  government  and  schools  for  Alaska. 
He  held  public  meetings  in  many  of  the  leading  cities  and  many  of  the  prominent 
towns  from  the  Pacific  to  the  Atlantic,  delivering  from  1878  to  1884  about  nine  hun- 
dred addresses  on' Alaska.  He  went  before  committees  of  the  Forty-sixth,  Forty-sev- 
enth, and  Forty-eighth  Congresses,  and  with  unflagging  zeal  sought  to  enlist  the  in- 
terest of  Congressmen.  He  secured  the  hearty  co-operation  of  the  missionary  societies 
of  the  Baptist,  Methodist,  Congregational,  Episcopal,  Moravian,  and  Presbyterian 
churches. 

In  18w0  he  published  a  book  on  Alaska,  and  on  March  23,  1882,  delivered  an  addre-ss 
before  the  Department  of  Superintendence  of  the  National  Educational  Association, 
which  was  printed  by  this  Bureau  in  Circular  of  Information  No.  2,  18'<2.  Of  this 
circular  three  editions  have  been  called  for,  making  an  aggregate  of  60,000  copies. 
During  the  summer  of  1K83  he  visited  the  twenty-second  annual  meeting  nf  the  Na- 
tional Educational  Association  of  the  United  States,  the  second  National  Educati()nal 
Assembly,  and  the  State  Teachers'  Associations  of  Vermont,  New  Ham])shire,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  Connecticut,  each  of  which  passed  strong  resolutions  asking  Congress 
to  provide  a  school  system  for  Alaska. 

Through  these  meetings  the  teachers  became  interested,  and  thousands  of  petitions 
from  teachers,  scattered  from  Maine  to  Texas  and  tiom  Florida  to  Oregon,  were  sent 
to  Congressmen,  asking  for  schools  for  Alaska.  So  jtersistent  and  continuous  was  the 
pressure  invoked  by  Dr.  Jackson  from  so  many,  varied,  and  widely  separated  forces, 
that  when  the  bill  was  reached  Congress  passed  it  with  great  unanimity. 


Appendix  B. 

AN  ACT  piovidinj;  a  civil  goveinment  for  Alaska. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  a^id  House  of  liepreHentatlven  of  the  United  States  oj  America 
in  Covijress  assembled,  That  the  territory  ceded  to  the  United  States  by  Russia  by  the 
treaty  of  March  thirtieth,  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-seven,  and  known  as  Alaska, 
shall  constitute  a  civil  and  judicial  district,  the  government  of  which  shall  be  organ- 
ized and  administered  as  hereinafter  jiiovided.  The  temporary  seat  of  government  of 
said  district  is  hereby  established  at  Sitka. 

Sec.  2.  That  there  shall  be  apjioiuted  for  the  said  district  a  governor,  who  shall 
reside  therein  during  his  term  of  office  and  be  charged  with  the  interests  of  the 
United  States  Government  that  may  arise  within  said  district.  To  the  end  aforesaid 
he  shall  have  authority  to  see  that  the  laws  enacted  ior  siiid  district  are  entorced,  and 
to  re(|uire  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  duties  by  the  officials  appoi-.ited  to  ailmiiiister 
the  same.  He  may  also  grant  reprieves  for  offenses  committed  ;ig;iinsr  the  laws  of 
the  district  or  of  the  United  States  until  the  decision  of  the  President  thereon  shall 
be  made  known.  He  shall  be  ex-officio  commander-in-chief  of  the  militia  of  said  dis- 
trict, and  shall  have  power  to  call  out  the  same  when  necessary  to  the  due  execution 
of  the  laws  and  to  preserve  the  peace,  and  to  canse  all  able-bodied  citizens  of  the 
United  States  in  said  district  to  enroll  and  serve  as  such  when  the  public  exigency 
demands  ;  and  he  shall  perform  generally  in  and  over  said  district  such  acts  as  pertain 


40  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

to  the  office  of  governor  of  a  Territory,  so  far  as  the  same  may  be  made  or  become 
ajiplicable  thereto.  He  shall  make  an  annual  re})ort,  on  the  first  day  of  October  in 
each  year,  to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  of  his  official  acts  and  doings,  and  of 
the  condition  of  said  district,  with  reference  to  its  resonrces,  industries,  population, 
and  the  administration  of  the  civil  government  thereof.  And  the  President  of  the 
United  States  shall  have  power  to  review  and  to  confirm  or  annul  any  reprieves  granted 
or  other  acts  done  by  him. 

Sec.  3.  That  there  shall  be,  and  hereby  is,  established  a  district  court  for  said  dis- 
trict, with  the  civil  and  criminal  jurisdiction  of  district  courts  of  the  United  States, 
and  the  civil  and  criminal  jurisdiction  of  district  courts  of  the  United  States  exercis- 
ing the  jurisdiction  of  circuit  courts,  and  such  other  jurisdiction,  not  inconsistent 
with  this  act,  as  may  be  established  by  law ;  and  a  district  judge  shall  be  appointed 
for  said  district,  who  shall  during  his  term  of  office  reside  therein  and  hold  at  least 
two  terms  of  said  court  therein  in  each  year,  one  at  Sitka,  beginning  on  the  first 
Monday  in  May,  and  the  other  at  Wrangell,  beginning  on  the  first  Monday  in  Novem- 
ber. He  is  also  authorized  and  directed  to  hold  such  special  sessions  as  may  be  neces- 
sary for  the  dispatch  of  the  business  of  said  court,  at  such  times  and  places  in  said 
district  as  he  may  deem  expedient,  and  may  adjourn  such  special  session  to  any  other 
time  previous  to  a  regular  session.  He  shall  have  authority  to  employ  interpreters, 
and  to  make  allowances  for  the  necessary  expenses  of  his  court. 

Sec.  4.  That  a  clerk  shall  be  appointed  for  said  court,  who  shall  be  ex-officio  sec- 
retary and  treasurer  of  said  district,  a  district  attorney,  and  a  marshal,  all  of  whom 
shall  during  their  terms  of  office  reside  therein.  The  clerk  shall  record  and  preserve 
copies  of  all  the  laws,  proceedings,  and  official  acts  applicable  to  said  district.  He 
shall  also  receive  all  moneys  collected  from  tines,  forfeilures,  or  in  any  other  manner 
except  from  violations  of  the  custom  laws,  and  shall  ajjply  the  same  to  the  incidental 
expenses  of  the  said  district  court  and  the  allowances  thereof,  as  directed  by  the  judge 
of  said  court,  and  shall  account  for  the  same  in  detail,  and  for  any  balances  on  ac- 
count thereof,  quarterly,  to  and  under  the  direction  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Tieasuiy. 
He  shall  be  ex-officio  recorder  of  deeds  and  mortgages  and  certificates  of  location  of 
mining  claims  and  other  contracts  relating  to  real  estate  and  register  of  wills  for  said 
district,  and  shall  establish  secure  offices  in  the  towns  of  Sitka  and  Wrangell,  in  said 
district,  for  the  safekeeping  of  all  his  official  records,  and  of  records  concerning  the 
reformation  and  establishment  of  the  present  status  of  titles  to  lands,  as  hereinafter 
directrd  :  Providid,  That  the  district  court  hereby  created  may  direct,  if  it  shall  deem 
it  expedient,  the  establishment  of  separate  offices  at  the  settlements  of  Wrangell, 
Unalashka,  and  Junean  City,  respectively,  for  the  recording  of  such  instruments  as 
may  pertain  to  the  several  natural  divisions  of  said  district  most  convenient  to  said 
settlements,  the  limits  of  which  shall,  in  the  event  of  such  direction,  be  defined  by 
said  court;  and  said  offices  shall  be  in  charge  of  the  commissioners  respect! velj',  as 
hereinafter  provided. 

Sec.  5.  That  there  shall  be  appointed  by  the  President  four  commissioners  in  and 
for  the  said  district  who  shall  have  the  jurisdiction  and  powers  of  commissioners  of 
the  United  States  circuit  courts  in  any  part  of  said  district,  but  who  shall  reside,  one 
at  Sitka,  one  at  Wrangell  one  at  Unalashka,  and  one  at  Juneau  City.  Such  commis- 
sioners sh.iU  exercise  all  the  duties  and  powers,  civil  and  criminal,  now  conferred  on 
justices  of  the  peace  under  the  general  laws  of  the  State  of  Oregon,  so  far  as  the  same 
may  be  applicable  in  said  district,  and  may  not  be  in  conflict  with  this  act  or  the  laws 
of  the  United  States.  They  shall  als  >  have  jurisdiction,  subject  to  the  supervision  of 
the  district  judge,  in  all  testamentary  and  probate  matters,  and  for  this  purpose  their 
courts  shall  be  o})ened  at  stated  terms  and  be  courts  of  record,  and  be  provided  with 
a  seal  for  the  authentication  of  their  official  acts.  They  shall  also  have  power  to 
grant  writs  of  habeas  corpus  for  the  purpose  of  inquiring  into  the  cause  of  restraint 
of  liberty,  which  writs  shall  be  made  returnable  before  the  said  district  judge  for  said 
district ;  and  like  proceedings  shall  be  had  thereon  as  if  the  same  had  been  granted 
by  said  judge  under  the  general  laws  of  the  United  States  in  such  cases.  Said  com- 
missioners shall  also  have  the  powers  of  notaries  public,  and  shall  keep  a  record  of  all 
deeds  and  other  instruments  of  writing  acknowledged  before  them  and  relating  to 
the  title  to  or  transfer  of  property  within  said  district,  which  record  shall  be  subject 
to  public  inspection.  Said  commissioners  shall  also  keep  a  record  of  all  fines  and  for- 
feitures received  by  them,  and  shall  pay  over  the  same  quarterly  to  the  clerk  of  said 
district  court.  The  governor  appointed  under  the  provisions  of  this  act  shall,  from 
time  to  time,  inquire  into  the  operations  of  the  Alaska  Seal  and  Fur  Company,  and 
shall  annually  report  to  Congress  the  result  of  such  inquiries  and  any  and  all  viola- 
tions by  said  company  of  the  agreement  existing  between  the  United  States  and  said 
company. 

Sec.  6.  That  the  marshal  for  said  district  shall  have  the  general  authority  and 
powers  of  the  United  States  marshals  of  the  States  and  Territories.  He  shall  be  the 
executive  officer  of  said  court,  and  charged  with  the  execution  of  all  process  of  said 
court  and  with  the  transportation  and  custody  of  prisoners,  and  he  shall  be  ex-officio 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  41 

keeper  of  the  jail  or  peniteutiary  of  said  district.  He  shall  appoint  four  deputies,  who 
shall  reside  severally  at  the  towns  of  Sitka,  Wrangell,  Unalashka,  and  Juneau  City, 
and  they  shall  respectively  be  ex-officio  constables  and  executive  officers  of  the  com- 
missioners' courts  herein  provided,  and  shall  have  the  powers  and  discharge  the  duties 
of  United  States  deputy  marshals,  and  those  of  constaldes  under  the  laws  of  the  State 
of  Oregon  now  in  force. 

Sec.  7.  That  the  general  laws  of  the  State  of  Oregon  now  in  force  are  hereby  de- 
clared to  be  the  law  in  said  district,  so  far  as  the  same  may  be  applicable  and  not  in 
conflict  with  the  provisions  of  this  act  or  the  laws  of  the  United  States ;  and  the  sen- 
tence of  imprisonment  in  any  criminal  case  shall  be  carried  out  by  confinement  in  the 
jail  or  penitentiary  hereinafter  provided  for.  But  the  said  district  court  shall  have  ex- 
clusive jurisdiction  in  all  cases  in  equity  or  those  involving  a  question  of  title  to  land, 
or  mining  rights,  or  the  constitutionalitj'  of  a  law,  and  in  all  criminal  offenses  which 
are  capital.  In  all  civil  cases,  at  common  law,  any  issue  of  fact  shall  be  determined 
by  a  jury,  at  the  instance  of  either  party;  and  an  appeal  shall  lie  in  any  case,  civil 
or  criminal,  from  the  judgment  of  said  commissioners  to  the  said  district  court  where 
the  amount  involved  in  any  civil  case  is  two  hundred  dollars  or  more,  and  in  any 
criminal  case  where  a  fine  of  more  than  one  hundred  dollars  or  imprisonment  is  im- 
posed, upon  the  filing  of  a  sufficient  appeal  bond  by  the  party  appealing,  to  be  ap- 
proved by  the  court  or  conmiissioner.  Writs  of  error  in  criminal  cases  shall  issue  to 
the  said  district  court  from  the  United  States  circuit  court  for  the  district  of  Oregon 
in  the  cases  provided  in  chapter  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  of  the  laws  of  eighteen 
hundred  and  seventy-nine  ;  and  the  jurisdiction  thereby  conferred  upon  circuit  courts 
is  hereby  given  to  the  circuit  court  of  Oregon.  And  the  final  judgments  or  decrees  of 
said  circuit  and  district  court  may  be  reviewed  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States  as  in  other  cases. 

Sec.  8.  That  the  said  district  of  Alaska  is  hereby  created  a  land  district,  and  a 
United  States  land-office  for  said  district  is  hereby  located  at  Sitka.  The  commis- 
sioner provided  for  by  this  act  to  reside  at  Sitka  shall  be  ex-officio  register  of  said 
land-office,  and  the  clerk  provided  for  by  this  act  shall  be  ex-officio  receiver  of  pub- 
lic moneys,  and  the  marshal  provided  for  by  this  act  shall  be  ex-officio  surveyor  gen- 
eral of  said  diftrict,  and  the  laws  of  the  United  States  relating  to  mining  claims,  and 
the  rights  incident  thereto,  shall,  from  and  after  the  passage  of  this  act,  be  in  full 
force  and  efi'ect  in  said  district,  under  the  administration  thereof  herein  provided  for, 
subject  to  such  regulations  as  may  be  made  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  approved 
by  "the  President:  Provided,  That  the  Indians  or  other  persons  in  said  district  shall 
not  be  disturbed  in  the  possession  of  any  lands  actually  in  their  use  or  occupation  or 
now  claimed  by  them,  but  the  terms  under  which  su#h  persons  may  acquire  title  to 
such  lauds  is  reserved  for  future  legislation  by  Congress:  And  provided  fiirtlnr,  That 
parties  who  have  located  mines  or  mineral  privileges  therein  under  the  laws  of  the 
United  States  applicable  to  the  public  douiain,  or  who  have  occupied  and  improved  or 
exercised  acts  of  ownership  over  such  claims,  shall  not  be  disturbed  therein,  but  shall 
be  allowed  to  i»erfect  their  title  to  such  claims  by  payment  as  aforesaid:  And  pro- 
vided also,  That  the  land  not  exceeding  six  hundred  and  forty  acres  at  any  station 
now  occupied  as  missionary  stations  among  the  Indian  tribes  in  said  section,  with  the 
improvements  thereon  erected  by  or  for  such  societies,  shall  be  continued  in  the  oc- 
cupancy of  the  several  religious  societies  to  which  said  missionary  stations  respect- 
ively belong  until  action  by  Congress.  But  nothing  contained  in  this  act  shall  be 
construed  to  put  in  force  in  said  district  the  general  land  laws  of  the  United  States. 

Sec.  9.  That  the  governor,  attorney,  judge,  marshal,  clerk,  and  commissioners  pro- 
vided for  in  this  act  shall  be  appointed  by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  by  and 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  and  shall  hold  their  respective  offices  for 
the  term  of  four  years,  and  until  their  successors,  are  appointed  and  qualified.  They 
shall  severally  receive  the  fees  of  office  established  by  law  for  the  several  offices  the 
duties  of  which  have  been  hereby  conferred  upon  them,  as  the  same  are  determined 
and  allowed  in  respect  of  similar  offices  under  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  which 
fees  shall  be  reported  to  the  Attorney-General  and  paid  into  the  Treasury  of  the 
United  States.  They  shall  receive  respectively  the  following  annual  salaries  :  The 
governor,  the  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars;  the  attorney,  the  sum  of  two  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars;  the  marshal,  the  sum  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars; 
the  judge,  the  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars ;  and  the  clerk,  the  sum  of  two  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars,  payable  to  them  quarterly  from  the  Treasury  of  the  United 
States.  The  district  judge,  marshal,  and  district  attorney  shall  be  paid  their  actual, 
necessary  expenses  when  traveling  in  the  discharge  of  their  official  duties.  A  detailed 
account  shall  be  rendered  of  such  expenses  under  oath,  and  asto  the  marshal  and  dis- 
trict attorney  such  accomit  shall  be  approved  by  the  judge,  and  as  to  his  expenses  by 
the  Attorney-General.  The  coiimiissioners shall  receive  theusualfeesof  United  States 
commibsioiiers  and  justices  of  the  peace  for  Oregon,  and  such  fees  for  recording  in- 
struments as  are  allowed  by  the  laws  of  Oregon  for  similar  services,  and  in  addition 
a  salary  of  one  thousand  dollars  each.     The  deputy  marshals,  in  addition  to  the  usual 


42  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

fees  of  constables  in  Oregon,  shall  receive  each  a  salary  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars,  which  salaries  shall  also  be  payable  quarterly  out  of  the  Treasury  of  the 
United  States.  Each  of  said  otificials  shall,  before  entering  on  the  duties  of  his  office, 
take  and  subscribe  an  oath  that  he  will  faithfully  execute  the  same,  which  said  oath 
may  be  taken  before  the  judge  of  said  district  or  any  United  States  district  or  circuit 
judge.  That  all  officers  appointed  for  said  district,  before  entering  upon  the  duties 
of  their  offices,  shall  take  the  oaths  required  by  law,  and  the  laws  of  the  United  States, 
not  locally  inapplicable  to  said  distiict  and  not  inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of 
this  act,  are  hereby  extended  thereto;  but  there  shall  be  no  legislative  assembly  in 
said  district,  nor  shall  any  delegate  be  sent  to  Congress  therefrom.  And  the  said 
clerk  shall  execute  a  bond,  with  sufficient  sureties,  in  the  penalty  of  ten  thousand 
dollars,  tor  the  faithful  performance  of  his  duties,  and  file  the  same  with  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Treasury  before  entering  on  the  duties  of  his  office;  and  the  commission- 
ers shall  each  execute  a  bond,  with  sufficient  sureties,  in  the  penalty  of  three  thou- 
sand dollars,  for  the  faithful  performance  of  their  duties,  and  tile  the  same  with  the 
clerk  before  entering  on  the  duties  of  their  office. 

Sec.  10.  That  any  of  the  public  buildings  in  said  district  not  required  for  the  cus- 
toms service  or  military  purposes  shall  be  used  for  court-rooms  and  offices  of  the  civil 
government ;  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  is  hereby  directed  to  instruct  and 
authorize  the  custodian  of  said  buildings  forthwith  to  make  such  repairs  to  the  jail  in 
the  town  of  Sitka,  in  said  district,  as  will  render  it  suitable  for  a  jail  and  penitentiary 
for  the  purposes  of  the  civil  government  hereby  provided,  and  to  surrender  to  the 
marshal  the  custody  of  said  jail  and  the  other  public  buildings,  or  such  parts  of  said 
buildings  as  may  be  selected  for  court-rooms,  offices,  and  officials. 

Sec.  11.  That  the  Attorney-General  is  directed  forthwith  to  compile  and  cause  to  be 
printed,  in  the  English  language,  in  pamphlet  form,  so  much  of  the  geueral  laws  of 
the  United  States  as  is  applicable  to  the  duties  of  the  governor,  attorney,  judge,  clerk, 
marshals,  and  commissioners  appointed  for  said  district,  and  shall  furnish  for  the  use 
of  the  officers  of  said  Territory  so  many  copies  as  may  be  needed  of  the  laws  of  Oregon 
applicable  to  said  district. 

Sec.  12.  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  shall  select  two  of  the  officers  to  be  ap; 
pointed  under  this  act,  who,  together  with  the  governor,  shall  constitute  a  commis- 
sion to  examine  into  and  report  upon  the  condition  of  the  Indians  residing  in  said 
Territory,  what  lands,  if  any,  should  be  reserved  for  their  use,  what  provision  shall 
be  made  for  their  education,  what  rights  by  occupation  of  settlers  should  be  recog- 
nized, and  all  other  facts  that  may  be  necessary  to  enable  Congress  to  determine  what 
limitations  or  conditions  should  be  imposed  when  the  land  laws  of  the  United  States 
shall  be  extended  to  said  distriit;  and  to  defray  the  expenses  of  said  commission  the 
sum  of  two  thousand  dollars  is  hereby  appropriated  out  of  any  moneys  in  the  Treas- 
ury not  otherwise  appropriated. 

Sec.  13.  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  shall  make  needful  and  proper  provision 
for  the  education  of  the  children  of  school  age  in  the  Territory  of  Alaska.,  without  ref- 
erence to  race,  until  such  time  as  permanent  provision  shall  be  made  for  the  same, 
and  the  sum  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  or  so  much  thereof  as  may  be  necessary, 
is  hereby  appropriated  for  this  purpose. 

Sec.  14.  That  the  provisions  of  chapter  three,  title  twenty-three,  of  the  Revised 
Statutes  of  the  United  States,  relating  to  the  unorganized  Territory  of  Alaska,  shall 
remain  in  full  force,  except  as  herein  specially  otherwise  provided  ;  and  the  importa- 
tion, manufacturt',  and  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  in  said  district  except  for  medici- 
nal, mechanical  and  scientific  purposes  is  hereby  prohibited  under  the  penalties  which 
are  provided  in  section  nin^teen  hundred  and  fifty-five  of  the  Revised  Statutes  for  the 
wrongful  importation  of  distilled  spirits.  And  the  President  of  the  United  States 
shall  make  such  regulations  as  are  necessary  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  this  section. 

Approved,  May  17,  1884. 


Appendix  C. 

Depaktiment  of  the  Interior, 

WahUngton,  D.  C,  March  2,  1885. 

Sir:  Section  1.3  of  the  act  providing  a  civil  government  for  Alaska  devolves  upon 
the  Secretary  of  tjie  Interior  llie  duty  of  making  needful  and  proper  provision  for 
the  education  of  children  of  school  fige  in  that  Territory  until  permanent  provision 
shall  be  made  for  the  same. 

The  nature  of  the  duties  assigned  by  section  51(3  of  the  Revised  Statutes  to  the 
Commissioner  of  Education  would  seem  to  point  him  out  as  the  proper  officer  through 
whom  the  purpose  of  Congress  should  be  carried  ilito  execution. 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  43 

I  have  to  request,  therefore,  that  you  prepare  a  plan  of  operation  and  initiate  anch 
steps  as  are  necessary  ami  proper  for  carryinj^  into  ett'eet  the  legishition  above  referred 
to,  reporting  the  results  of  the  same  as  may  be  liereafter  directed  by  tlie  Secretary  of 
the  Interior  or  whenever  in  your  judgment  there  may  be  occasion  for  so  doing. 
Very  respectfully,  &c., 

H.  M.  TELLER, 

Secretary. 

The  COMMISSIONEK   OF   EDUCATION. 


Appendix  D. 

Department  of  the  Interior, 

Bureau  of  Education, 
JVashinglov,  D.  C,  Jpril9,  1885. 

Sir:  In  carrying  out  the  orders  of  the  Department  under  the  law  providing  for  the 
establishment  of  common  schools  in  Alaska,  I  tiud  a  condition  of  facts  which  I  wish  to 
submit  to  your  consideration,  together  with  a  recommendation.  The  nearest  school 
in  Alaska  will  be  about  4,.S00  miles  from  Washington,  and  all  of  the  schools  will  be 
widely  separated  from  each  other,  some  of  them  doubtless  over  6,000  miles  from  this 
city.  The  appropriation  of  !|-25,000  for  the  entire  work  is  very  small,  and  much  should 
be  done  in  the  way  of  inducing  the  communities  where  there  is  money  to  co-operate 
in  bearing  expenses,  and  thus  increasing  the  amount  to  be  accomplishe<l  by  the  small 
fund  at  command.  I  see  no  way  to  organize  schools  sufficiently  under  these  circum- 
stances but  by  the  appointment  of  some  one  in  Alaska  as  a  general  agent  of  educa- 
tion. 

Residing  at  Sitka,  this  superintendent  could  go  out  in  the  naval  vessel  to  visit  the 
several  chief  centers  of  population  where  schools  can  be  established,  and  interest  the 
people,  judge  intelligently  of  the  requirements  for  buildings,  teachers,  &c.,  and  thus 
furnish  the  data  for  intelligent  direction  of  the  schools,  here  in  Washington.  I  there- 
fore recommend  that  a  general  agent  of  education  for  Alaska  be  appointed  by  the 
Secretary  of  the  Interior,  to  report  to  this  office  for  orders  and  instructions,  at  a 
nominal  salary  of  .$1,200  a  year,  which  will  but  little  more  than  cover  expenses.  Be- 
fore concluding  to  make  this  recommendation  I  may  add  that  I  have  conferred  with 
a  considerable  number  of  very  intelligent  persons  who  have  visited  Alaska,  all  of 
whom  thoroughly  concur  in  the  view  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  manage  schools 
there  efficiently  without  a  local  superintendent. 

The  governor  of  the  Territory  when  here  recently  expressed  himself  to  the  same 
effect.  In  looking  for  the  proper  person  to  become  such  an  agent,  I  tiud  no  one  either 
so  well  qualified  or  so  strongly  recommended  as  Mr.  Sheldon  Jackson.  He  has  re- 
peatedly visited  considerable  portions  of  the  country,  and  written  a  book  which  is  a 
popular  source  of  information  in  regard  to  its  people  and  their  progress,  and  led  the 
way  in  the  establishment  of  the  schools  at  present  taught  in  the  Territory,  and  is  now 
their  superintendent.  He  was  unanimously  recommende<l  for  the  position  of  super- 
intendent of  instruction  by  all  of  the  private  organizations  some  time  since  aiming  to 
promote  education  in  Alaska,  and  by  a  considerable  number  of  prominent  men.  I 
have  known  Mr.  Jackson  thorouglily  for  a  considerable  number  of  years.  He  is  a 
Christian  gentleman,  of  excellent  ability,  great  energy,  and,  I  believe,  specially  fitted 
to  carry  through,  successfully,  the  plan  of  establishing  schools  in  that  far  off  country, 
i  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  vour  obedient  servant," 

JOHN  EATON. 

Cummissioiier. 

The  Hon.  Secretary  ok  the  Interior, 

jra-shiiiglori,  I).  C. 

Approved : 

L.  Q.  C.  Lamar, 

Secrtfarij. 


Appendix  E. 

national  educational  association. 

Officers  for  188r.-'8G. 

President. — N.  A.  Calkins,  of  New  York. 
Secretary. — W.  E.  Sheldon,  of  Massnchusetts. 
Treasurer. — E.  C.  Hewett,  of  Illinois. 

Vice- President s.—F.  Louis  Soldan,  of  Missouri  ;  S.  T.  Dutton,  of  Connecticut ;  James 
MacAlister,  of  Pennsylvania;  L.  D.  Brown,  of  Ohio;  Julius  D.  Dreher,  of  Virginia; 


44  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

S.  M.  Finger,  of  North  Carolina;  Edwaril  E.  Sheib,  of  Lonisiaua ;  J.Baldwin,  of 
Texas;  J.  W.  Stearns,  of  Wisconsin  ;  .1.  L.  Pickard,  of  Iowa  ;  Z.  Richards, of  the  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia  ;  Ella  C.  Sabin,  of  Oregon. 

Cointselors  at  large. — John  Eaton,  of  the  District  of  Columbia  ;  E.  E.  White,  of  Ohio. 

Counselors. — W.J.  Corthell,  of  Maine  ;  C.  C.  Rouuds,  of  New  Hampshire;  Justus 
Dart,  of  Vermont ;  Sarah  E.  Doyle,  of  Rhode  Island  ;  Charles  D.  Hine,  of  Connecticut ; 
McLain.of  New  York;  W.  N.  Barriuger,  of  New  Jersey  ;  H.  S.  Jones,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  G.  Stanley  Hall,  of  Maryland  ;  S.  C.  Armstrong,  of  Virginia  ;  S.  B.  Brown,  of 
West  Virginia;  Charles  E.  Taylor,  of  Noith  Carolina;  V.  C.  Dibble,  of  South  Caro- 
lina; J.  M.  F.  Irwin,  of  Georgia;  Julia  Tntweiler,  of  Alabama;  J.  R.Preston,  of  Mis- 
sissippi ;  E.  Nicholson,  of  Louisiana;  O.  V.  Hayes,  of  Arkansas;  Clara  Conway,  of 
Tennessee;  W,  D.  Parker,  of  Wisconsin;  R.  D.  Allen,  of  Kentucky ;  Robert  Steven- 
sou,  of  Ohio  ;  O.  S.  Westcott,  of  Illinois  ;  S.  S.  Parr,  of  Indiana ;  Henry  Sabin,  of 
Iowa;  Irwin  Shepard,of  Minnesota  ;  J.  S.  Cowdin,  of  Florida ;  H.  C.  Spear,  of  Kan- 
sas; E.  H.  Long,  of  Missouri ;  W.  W.  W.  Jones,  of  Nebraska;  John  Swett  of  Califor- 
nia; A.  Gove,  of  Colorado;  G.  C.  Hall,  of  Arizona;  F.  H.  Crawford,  of  Oregon  ;  J. 
M.  Feudley,  of  Texas;  J.  S.  Ingraham,of  Washington  Territory;  J.  M.  Covner,  of 
Utah;  W.  H.  H.  Beadle,  of  Dakota;  A.  S.  Nichols,  of  Montana;  John  Hitz,  of  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia ;  J.  H.  Covell,of  Indian  Territory;  Charles  S.  Young,  of  Nevada; 
Larkin  Dunton,  of  Massachusetts  ;  W.  H.  Payne,  of  Michigan. 

At  the  Twenty-fifth  annual  session  of  the  National  Associatiou,  at  Saratoga  Springs, 
July  14-17,  1885,  the  following  resolution  was  adopted: 

"This  association  rejoices  to  know  that  Congress  has  provided  for  schooling  the 
children  of  Alaska,  and  that  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson  has  y)een  designated  as  agent  to 
organize  these  schools.  We  know  of  no  one  so  well  qualified  as  he  is  for  this  distant 
and  difficult  task,  and  we  send  him  our  heartiest  greetings." 


Appendix  F. 

[Extract  from  the  report  of  the  Hon.  A.  P.  Swineford,  governor  of  Alaska,  to  the  Secretary  of  the 

Interior,  1885.] 

EDUCATION. 

The  organic  act  approved  May  17, 1884,  provided  an  appropriation  of  $25,000  "  for 
the  education  of  the  children  of  school  age  in  the  Territory  of  Alaska,  without  ref- 
erence to  race,"  and  by  act  of  July  4,  1884,  a  further  appropriation  of  |15,000  is 
made  "for  the  support  and  education  of  Indian  children  of  both  sexes  at  industrial 
schools  in  Alaska."  By  the  terms  of  the  first-mentioned  act  the  honorable  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Interior  is  required  to  make  such  proper  and  needful  provision  as  may  be 
necessary  to  the  proper  application  of  the  sum  appropriated  thereby ;  but  nothing 
was  done  in  that  direction  until  the  3d  of  March  foUowiug,  when  the  work  of  estab- 
ishing  a  common-school  system  in  Alaska  was  committed  to  the  Bureau  of  Educa- 
tion. The  Hon.  L.  Q.  C.  Lamar  gave  early  attention  to  the  matter,  after  taking  the 
portfolio  of  the  Interior  Department,  and  in  April  Rev.  Sheldon  Jackson  was  appointed 
general  agent  of  education  for  the  Territory.  The  general  agent  reports  that  he  has, 
during  the  past  summer,  established  and  placed  competent  teachers  in  charge  of 
schools  at  Juneau,  Sitka,  Wrangell,  Jackson,  Boyd  (Hoonah),  Haines,  and  Unalashka. 
A  corps  of  teachers  has  also  been  sent  to  establish  schools  on  the  Kuskokwim  River, 
150  miles  above  where  it  empties  into  the  Bering  Sea.  The  schooner  on  which  these 
teachers  sailed  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  on  the  I9th  of  June,  and  presumably 
by  this  time  have  their  buildings  up  and  their  schools  in  operation.  The  population 
of  this  last-named  section  is  exclusively  Eskimo.  In  addition  to  these,  schools  have 
been  authorized,  but  not  established,  at  Killisnoo,  Klawak,  Kadiak,  Uuga,  Belkoftsky, 
Wood  Island,  Saint  Michaels,  and  Fort  Yukon.  I  am  reliably  informed  that  the 
Aleuts  are  especially  anxious  for  the  establishment  of  English  schools  in  their  midst, 
and  that  they  need  only  to  be  supplied  with  educational  facilities  to  complete  the 
civilization  in  which  they  are  already  well  advanced. 

In  this  connection  I  desire  to  say  that  in  my  opinion  the  sum  appropriated  for  the 
establishment  and  maintenance  of  common  schools  in  Alaska  is  not  nearly  sufficient. 
No  argument  is  needed  to  establish  this  fact.  A  glance  at  a  map  showing  the  loca- 
tion of  the  schools  enumerated  as  having  already  been  and  remaining  yet  to  be  estab- 
lished ought  to  be  sufficiently  convincing.  Aside  from  the  cost  of  their  original  es- 
tablishment, the  supervision  and  control  involves  many  thousands  of  miles  of  expen- 
sive travel  annually  on  the  part  of  the  general  agent  and  the  teachers.  The  appro- 
priation should  be  increased  to  at  least  .$50,000. 

Various  suggestions  present  themselves  as  pertinent  to  the  subject  in  hand,  among 
them  the  necessity  of  a  compulsory-attendance  law,  and  one  making  provision  for 
the  placing  of  native  orphan  children  and  those  rescued  from  slavery  in  industrial 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  45 

scbools  ;  but  these  and  many  other  things  necessary  to  the  educational  and  other  in- 
terests of  the  Territory  will  be  easy  of  accomplishment  when  Congress  shall  liave  given 
Alaska  a  form  of  government  which  will  enable  her  people  to  legislate  for  themselves 
on  all  questions  of  a  purel.v  local  character. 

The  industrial  school  at  Sitka,  I  am  pleased  to  be  able  to  report,  is  making  fair  pro- 
gress and  doing  excellent  work  in  the  education  and  training  ot  native  boys  and  girls, 
in  the  mechanical  trades  on  the  one  hand,  and  a  knowledge  of  household  work  and 
duties  on  the  other.  The  appro[)riations  made  by  Congress  for  the  support  of  this 
school  could  not  have  been  directed  to  a  better  purpose,  and  I  respectfully  suggest 
that  they  should  be  materially  increased,  to  the  end  tiiat  another  and  similar  institu- 
tion may  be  established  in  tlie  Aleutian  Islands  in  accordance  with  what  I  understand 
to  have  been  the  original  plan,  thus  completing  for  the  time  being  the  common  school 
system  of  the  Territory — the  children  who  manifest  more  than  average  aptitude  and 
progress  in  the  common  schools  to  be  advanced  to  the  others.  But  one  section  of  the 
Territory  can  derive  any  considerable  benefit  from  this  proposed  grade  system  until 
an  additional  training  school  at  Unalashka  is  provided  for.  I  therefore  urge  that 
Congress  be  asked  for  an  appropriation  sufficient  to  erect  the  necessary  buildings  not 
only  for  such  additional  training  school,  but  which  will  likewise  enable  the  Com- 
missioner of  Indian  Atfairs  to  pay  the  same  amount  per  capita  for  the  support  and  ed- 
ucation of  Indian  pupils  in  Alaska  as  is  paid  at  all  the  other  industrial  schools  in  the 
country,  the  amount  now  allowed  being  considerably  less.  Provision  should  also  be 
made  for  supplying  one  or  both  these  schools  with  an  experimental  farmer,  a  dress- 
maker and  seamstress,  and  a  saw-mill.  The  latter  would  be  self-supporting  from  the 
start,  and  of  great  benefit  by  way  of  enabling  the  natives  to  provide  themselves  with 
comfortable  houses. 


Appendix  G. 

annual  reports  of  the  schools  on  the  pribiloff  islands,  1870-'85. 

Treasury  Department,  Office  of  the  Secretary, 

Washin;iton,  D.  C,  December  2,  1885. 

Sir  :  The  Department  is  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  '23d  ultimo,  requesting  copies 
of  reports  of  Treasury  agents  in  regard  to  the  condition  of  the  schools  on  the  islands 
of  St.  Paul  and  St.  George  in  Alaska,  from  the  beginning  (1868  or  1869). 

In  comjiliance  with  your  request  I  transmit  herewith  extracts  from  the  following 
reports : 

Extract  from  report  of  Special  4gent  Charles  Bryant,  dated  May  14,  1870. 

Extract  from  report  of  Special  Agent  Charles  Bryant,  dated  October  19,  1870. 

Extract  from  report  of  Mr.  S.  N.  Buynitzky,  clerk  and  agent,  dated  December  30, 
1870. 

Extract  from  report  of  Special  Agent  Charles  Bryant,  dated  May  19,  1871. 

Extract  from  report  of  Special  Agent  Samuel  Falconer,  dated  August  3,  1871. 

Extract  from  report  of  Special  Agent  Charles  Bryant,  dated  November  10,  1871. 

Extract  from  report  of  Special  Agent  Charles  Bryant,  dated  September  5,  1872. 

Extract  from  report  of  Special  Agent  Samuel  Falconer,  dated  May  27,  1873. 

Extract  from  report  of  Special  Agent  Charles  Bryant,  dated  September  30,  1873. 

Extract  from  report  of  Special  Agent  Charles  Bryant,  dated  May  12,  1875. 

Extract  from  report  of  Special  Agent  Charles  Bryant,  dated  August  1,  1877. 

Extract  from  report  of  Special  Agent  J.  M.  Morton,  dated  May  15,  1878. 

Extract  from  report  of  Special  Agent  Harrison  G.  Otis,  dated  June  1,  1879. 

Extract  from  report  of  Special  Agent  Harrison  G.  Otis,  dated  July  30,  1880. 

Extract  from  report  of  Special  Agent  Harrison  G.  Otis,  dated  July  30,  1881. 

Extract  from  report  of  Special  Agent  Henry  A.  Glidden,  dated  .July  21,  1882. 

Extract  from  report  of  Special  Agent  Henry  A.  Glidden,  dated  July  30,  1883. 

Extract  from  report  of  Special  Agent  Henry  A.  Glidden,  dated  July  31,  1884. 

The  extract  from  the  report  for  1885  appears  to  have  been  forwarded  to  jou  on  the 
21st  ultimo. 

It  appears  by  the  terms  of  the  lease  of  the  islands  of  Saint  Paul  and  Saint  George 
to  the  Alaska  Commercial  Company,  which  coutiuues  for  a  term  of  twenty  (20)  years, 
from  May  1,  1870,  that  said  company  is  bound  to  maintain  a  school  on  each  island  for 
€ight  months  in  each  year  during  the  continuance  of  said  lease. 

The  abstracts  of  accounts  submitted  by  the  Treasury  agents  seem  to  show  that  said 
provision  has  thus  far  been  complied  with. 
Very  respectfully, 

C.  S.  FAIRCHILD, 

Assistant  Secretary. 

Rev.  Sheldon  Jackson,  D.  D., 

United  States  General  Agent  of  Education  in  Alaska. 


46  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

Island  of  Saint  Paul, 

Alaska,  October  19,  1870. 
Sir:  *  *  •  lu  couclusion,  I  take  pleasure  in  briuging  to  the  notice  of  the  Depart- 
ment a  fact  witnessed  by  uie  in  uiy  last  visit  to  the  island  of  Saint  George,  a  fact  grati- 
fying to  all  those  who,  like  myself,  feel  interested  in  the  future  moral  development 
of  the  Aleutian  population.  On  the  iJth  instant  I  was  present  at  the  examination  of 
a  school  of  twelve  boys  and  six  girls  in  Euglish  reading  ;  they  distinctly  read  any 
page  of  Wilson's  primer,  counted  up  to  one  thousand,  named  the  days  of  the  week, 
the  months  and  seasons  of  the  year,  various  articles  of  dress,  household  implements, 
&c.,  &c.  This  was  the  result  of  about  three  months' work.  Rendering  justice  to  the 
zeal  and  ability  of  the  founder  of  the  school,  Mr.  S.  N.  Bnynitzky,  I  cannot  refuse  a 
due  share  of  praise  to  the  natural  gifts  of  the  Aleutian  race,  and  I  beg  leave  to  ex- 
press here  my  earnest  belief  that  the  Aleuts  might  become  as  good  American  citizens 
as  any  admitted  under  the  fifteenth  amendment  to  the  Constitution. 
I  am,  sir,  with  great  respect, 

CHARLES  BRYANT. 
Special  Agent  Treasury  Department. 
Hon.  George  S.  Boutwell, 

Seci-etary  of  the  Treasury. 


Washington,  D.  C,  December  30,  1870. 

Sir  :  By  letter  of  instructions  of  May  25,  1870.  *  *  *  The  population  of  the 
islands,  numbering  240  on  Saint  Paul  and  125  on  Saint  George,  are  mostly  Aleuts,  some 
half-breeds,  and  a  few  descendants  of  Kamtchadales  brought  over  from  Kamtchatka 
by  the  vessels  of  the  Russian-American  Company.  Their  mother-tongue  is  the  Aleu- 
tian, a  language  spoken  with  slight  A'ariations  all  over  tlie  Aleutian  Islands  and  the 
southeast  coast  of  Alaska  peninsula.  The  Russian  language  is  understood  by  all  and 
intelligently  spoken  by  many.  They  all  belong  to  the  Gra-co-  Russian  Catholic  Church, 
and  are  sincerely  attached  to  their  religion. 

According  to  the  statement  of  the  natives  of  the  islands  of  Saint  Paul  and  Saint 
George,  a  notable  improvement  in  their  material  welfare  has  taken  place  since  the 
transfer  of  the  Territory  to  the  United  States.  Still,  their  prosperity  is  far  from  being 
in  harmony  with  the  importance  of  their  share  in  the  production  of  wealch, 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  N.  BUYNITZKY, 

Clerk. 
Hon.  George  S.  Boutwell, 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 


Saint  George  Island, 
Bering  Sea,  Alaska  Territory,  May  14,  1871. 
Sir  :  Having  been  appointed  by  you  October  10,  1870,  to  act  as  your  assistant  on 
Saint  George  Island,  I  beg  leave  to  submit  the  following  report : 

On  the  1st  of  November  last  a  school  was  re-established  for  the  natives,  the  attend- 
ants of  which  number  about  2.5 ;  and  from  the  advanced  state  they  were  left  in  by  our 
friend,  Mr.  Buynitzky,  it  was  no  difficult  task  to  get  along  with  them.  They  are 
making  rapid  progress,  and  feel  anxious  to  learn  the  English  language.  Even  men 
who  have  advanced  to  the  age  of  thirty  and  forty  attend  school,  and  are  making 

equal  progress. 

#  »  »  #  #  »  ♦ 

I  am,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

SAMUEL  FALCONER, 

Acting  Assistant  Special  Agent. 
Capt.  Chas.  Bryant, 

Special  Agent  Treasury  Department ,  in  charge  of  Seal  Islands, 


Office  Special  Agency, 
Saint  Paul  Island,  Alaska,  May  19,  1871. 
Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report.     *     *     *     In  November  last  a  school  was  opened 
for  the  natives,  which  was  attended  by  twenty-nine  pupils,  who  were  between  tho 
ages  of  seventeen  and  five  years.     The  average  attendance  was  95  per  cent.     All  mani- 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  47 

fested  great  interest  iu  learning  the  English  language,  and  made  good  progress.     All 
learned  the  alphabet,  and  many  were  able  to  read  simple  sentences. 

I  herewith  transmit  a  very  able  report  of  Acting  A.ssistaut  Special  Agent  Samuel 
Falconer  on  the  condition  of  the  island  of  Saint  George,  nnder  his  charge. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  respectfully,  yours, 

CH.ARLES  BKYANT, 
Special  Agent  Treasury  Department. 
Hon.  Geo.  S.  Boutwell, 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 


Special  Agent's  Office, 
Saint  Geouge  Island,  August  3,  1871. 
Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  report.     *     »     *     The  school  which  was  supported  through 
last  winter  has  been  suspended  for  the  sealing  season,  but  will  be  again  opened  as 
soon  as  it  shall  seem  profitable  to  do  so. 
I  am,  respectfully, 

SAMUEL  FALCONER, 

Special  Agent. 
Charles  Bryant,  Esq., 

Special  Agent  Treasury  Department,  Saint  Paul  Island. 


Fairhaven,  Mass.,  November  10,  1871. 
Sir  :  I  have  tbe  honor  to  report.  *  *^  *  The  only  possible  place  where  a  school 
could  be  accommodated  was  the  dining-room  of  the  employesof  the  comi'any,  and  that 
could  be  had  only  two  hours  iu  each  afternoon.  As  early  as  practicable  a  school  was 
opened,  and  both  parents  and  children  were  det-ply  interested  in  its  success.  It  was 
attended  by  29  scholars  between  the  ages  of  tive  and  eighteen,  the  average  attend- 
ance being  9.5  per  cent.  All  learned  the  alphabet,  and  many  to  read  simple  sentences, 
hut  great  difficulty  was  experienced  iu  enabling  them  to  understan<l  the  meaning, 
their  isolated  condition  being  unfavorable  to  the  development  of  ideas,  and  it  was 
foi;nd  that  the  only  effective  method  was  object  teaching,  for  which  there  existed  a 
scanty  supply  of  material.  The  school  had  to  be  closed  iu  April,  and  owing  to  the 
difficulty  of  many  attending  during  the  sealing  season,  it  had  not  been  resumed.  At 
the  time  of  my  leaving  (August  15)  a  large  building  was  being  fitted  expressly  for  the 
school  and  a  place  for  the  people  to  assemble. 

There  are  on  the  islands  a  population  of  376  natives,  so  called  ;  these  are  about  one- 
half  pure  Aleutian  blood,  the  other  half  Creole  blood ;  in  several  the  foreign  element 
predominates.  They  have  a  well-organized  system  of  government,  under  chiefs  of 
their  own  election,  subject  to  removal  at  the  will  of  the  people,  whenever  they  choose. 
Those  now  acting  have  done  so  for  three  years,  and  are  very  efficient  men.  These 
exercise  a  kind  of  patriarchal  supervision  over  the  affairs  of  the  whole  people,  but  pos- 
sess no  power  to  enforce  their  authority  beyond  the  expression  of  their  will.  This 
meets  all  theirwants  as  a  simple  community,  but  there  sometimes  arise  contingencies 
when  this  is  insufficient. 


I  have  the  honor  to  remain, 


Hon.  Geo.  S.  Boutwell, 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 


CHARLES  BRYANT, 
Special  Agent  Treasury  Department. 


Treasury  Agent's  Office, 
Saint  Paul  Island,  Alaska, 

September  5,  1872. 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  affairs  of  the  Seal  Isl- 
ands since  my  last,  dated  May  7,  1872. 

»  »  #  #  »  *  » 

The  school  has  been  discontinued  during  the  sealing  season,  but  will  be  resumed 
again  as  soon  as  the  vessels  are  gone. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain, 

CHARLES  BRYANT, 
Treasury  Agent  in  charge  Seal  Islands. 
Hon.  Geo.  S.  Boutw'ell, 

Secretary  Treasury. 


48  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

Assistant  Tkeasury  Agent's  Ofi'ice, 

Saint  George  Island,  May  27,  1873. 
Sir:  Having  reported  to  you  in  detail  in  the  month  of  August  last — 

The  school  was  maintained  tbrouijh  the  winter,  but  has  met  with  quite  a  drawback 
on  the  part  of  the  childrBii's  parents;  they  entertain  the  idea  that  by  learning  au 
English  edncation  it  will  interfere  with  their  religion.  The  absurdity  of  this  has 
been  fully  explained  to  them,  and  a  few  have  consented  to  have  their  children  attend, 
although  not  regular,  while  others  are  still  of  the  original  belief.  Thus,  where  no 
inducement  is  held  forth  by  the  children's  parents,  slow  progress  may  be  expected, 
not  but  what  much  pains  has  been  taken  by  their  teacher.  Would  it  not  be  well  to 
notify  their  bishop  at  Sitka  in  reference  to  this,  who  would  be  most  likely  to  banish 

this  erroneous  idea  from  their  minds  entirely  ? 

*****  .-  * 

SAMUEL  FALCONER. 
Assistant  Treasury  Agent  in  Charge  of  Saint  George  Island. 


Fairhaven,  Mass.,  September  30,  1873. 
Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  on  the  condition — 

The  census  taken  January  1,  1873,  on  Saint  Paul  Island  gives  the  number  of  the 
native  inhabitants  on  the  island  218;  to  these  should  be  added  the  seventeen  then 
absent  and  properly  to  be  reckoned  as  belonging  to  the  island,  making  in  all  235, 
showing  a  decrease  since  1B70  of  12  persons.  These  are  divided  as  follows  :  Males,  114  ; 
females,  121. 

A  school-house  was  fitted  up  and  properly  consecrated,  and  a  school  commenced 
October  2,  and  continued  eight  months;  but  on  account  of  a  prejudice  among  the 
people,  who  have  a  fear  that  in  learning  English  their  children  will  forget  their  Rus- 
sian and  weaken  their  attachment  to  their  church,  only  seven  attended  regularly. 
Under  the  assiduous  care  of  the  teacher,  these  made  very  commendable  progress. 
There  were  at  the  same  time  three  classes  taught  by  natives,  two  in  Russian  and  one 
in  Aleut;  in  all,  17  scholars  attended  schools  of  all  kinds.  Assistant  Agent  Samuel 
Falconer  reports  the  same  difficulties  existing  on  the  island  of  Saint  George  in  regard 

to  securing  attendance  at  school. 

*'*  *  It  *  *  * 

CHARLES  BRYANT, 
Treasury  Agent  for  Seal  Islands, 


Treasury  Agent's  Office, 
Saint  Paul  Island,  Alaska, 

May  12,  1875. 
Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  of  the  arrival  at  this  island,  on  the  10th  ult., 

■of  the  Alaska  Commercial  Company's  steamer  Alexander,  22  days  from  San  Francisco. 

*  #  ***  *  *  * 

The  school  was  commenced  in  the  first  week  of  October,  and  kept  continally,  ex- 
cept public  and  church  holidays.  The  first  months  a  very  general  attendance  was 
secured,  but  with  the  commencement  of  the  church  holidays  the  attendance  fell  off, 
and  it  was  difiicult,  without  actual  compulsion,  to  secure  so  great  an  attendance  as 
was  desirable.  Mrs.  C.  P.  Fish  labored  diligently  and  perseveringly  to  accomplish 
her  task,  and  a  few  who  have  become  attached  to  her  have  made  good  progress  in 
reading,  writing,  and  simple  arithmetic.  The  strong  ])rejudice  that  exists  among 
some  of  the  nmre  bigoted  against  their  children  learning  English,  lest  it  should 
weaken  their  attachment  to  the  Russian  church,  prevents  a  cordial  action  on  the  part 

■of  many. 

"*  #  #  #  »  *  # 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain, 

CHARLES  BRYANT, 
Treasury  Agent  in  Charge  Seal  Islands. 
Hon.  B.  H.  Bristow, 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 


EDUCATIOX    IX    ALASKA.  49 

Fairiiavex,  Mass.,  August  1,  1877. 
Sir:  I  liin^e  tlic  liouoi'  to  submit  the  following  brief  report  on  the  affairs  of  the 
Seal  Islands  from  the  date  of  my  last  report,  dated  September  26,  1876,  to  Mav  15, 
1877. 

The  school  was  commenced  October  2 — Miss  Jnniattc  B.  Pierce  as  teacher — and  con- 
tinued to  the  end  of  May.  At  the  commencement  a  full  attendance  was  secured, 
which  continued  until  the  holidays  in  January.  From  that  time  it  was  difficult  to 
secure  a  full  attendance,  from  hick  of  interest  and  appreciation  by  the  parents  of  the 
children.  Those  who  attended  reg-nlarly  made  very  good  progress,  but  owing  to  their 
having  no  practical  use  of  the  PJuglish  language  outside  of  the  school-room,  there 
is  very  little  exhibition  of  its  knowledge,  unless  they  are  questioned  directly  for  the 

purpose  of  drawing  them  out. 

#  »  #  #  *  #  # 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  vours,  respectfully, 

CHARLES  BRYANT, 
Ex-Treasury  Agent  for  Seal  Islands. 
Hon.  John  Shekmax, 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 


Office  of  the  Treasury  Agent, 

Saint  Paul  Isl.vnd,  Alaska, 

May  lo,  1878. 
Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  statement  relative  to  affairs  at  the 

seal  fisheries  since  the  date  of  my  last  report  in  May,  1^77 : 

*  #  ■»  »*■»  »  » 

A  school  was  maintained  on  the  island  from  the  17th  of  September,  1877,  to  the  17th 
of  May,  making  eight  months.  As  the  people  were  very  desirous  of  the  establishment 
of  a  Russian  school,  the  use  of  the  company's  school-house  was  granted  for  that  pur- 
pose in  the  afternoons,  and  the  English  school  has  therefore  been  held  only  during 
the  morning  hours.  This  arrangement  has  served  to  dispel  the  objection  heretofore 
held  by  the  people  to  their  children  attending  the  English  school,  which  they  con- 
tended would  eliectually  interfere  with  the  acquisition  of  the  Russian  tongue,  in  which 
their  church  service  is  conducted.  Before  the  opening  of  the  English  school,  I  took 
pains  to  explain  to  the  parents  the  importance  of  sending  their  children,  and  stated 
to  them  that  every  child  of  proper  age  and  condition  would  be  required  to  attend. 
Treasury  Agent  Moulton  has  since  given  his  close  personal  attention  to  this  matter 
with  very  excellent  results.  The  average  attendance  of  boys  and  girls  during  the 
term  was  about  thirty,  which  was  much  larger  than  has  ever  been  given  to  any  pre- 
vious school.     Under  an  excellent  lady  teacher  the  progress  made  by  the  children  in 

the  elementary  branches  has  been  very  comuieudable. 

*  *  *  jf  *  #  » 

The  population  of  this  island  on  the  1st  day  of  January,  1878,  was  257,  divided  as 
follows:  Males,  118;  females,  139. 

The  number  of  births  during  the  year  1877  was  13,  and  the  number  of  deaths  18, 

»#»»*#*■ 

Very  respectfully, 

J.  M.  MORTON, 
Treasury  Agent  in  Charge  Seal  Inlands. 


[OflSce  of  Special  Agent,  Treasury  Department,  in  charge  of  Fur  Seal  Islands,  Alaska.] 

Saint  Paul  Island,  June  1,  1879. 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  my  arrival  here  on  the  27th  ultimo  to  enter  upon 
the  discharge  of  my  duties  as  special  agent.     *     *     * 

I  fouiul  Assistant  Special  Agent  J.  11.  Moulton  in  charge,  and  obtained  from  him  in- 
formation touching  the  condition  of  atfairs  on  the  island  during  the  past  winter,  which 
has  been  generally  favorable,  and  of  which  I  submit  herewith  a  brief  report.     *     *     » 

I  have  no  report  from  Saint  George  Island.  The  English  school  here  was  taught 
three  hours  each  week-day  from  September  2,  1878,  to  May  8,  1879 — eight  months — 
with  an  average  daily  attendance  of  38  out  of  a  total  of  42  on  the  school  roll.  The 
Russian  school  was  taught  from  two  to  three  hours  a  day  (in  the  afternoon)  with  an 
average  attendance  of  about  44.    Assistant  Special  Ageufc  Moulton  appears  to  have 

7018  AL 4 


50  EDUCATION    IX    ALASKA. 

takeu  great  interest  in  the  Enorlish  school,  and  .to  have  exerted  himself  to  promote  its 
efficiency,  as  also  has  the  teacher,  James  Bntriu,  a  native  Aleut,  educated  in  Yer- 
mout.     *     *     * 

Eespectfullv,  your  obedient  servant, 

HARRISON  G.  OTK, 
Special  Agent  Treasuri/  iJepartmeni,  in  charge  of  Fur  Seal  Islands. 

Hon.  John  Shermax, 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  Washington,  l>.  C. 


f Office  Special  Agent  Treasury  Department,  in  charge  of  Seal  Islands.] 

Saint  Paul  Island,  Alaska,  July  30,  1880. 
Sir  :  I  liave  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  on  the  results  of  the  sealing 
season,  just  closed,  on  the  islands  of  Saint  Paul  and  Saint  George,  and  other  aftairs  of 
the  Seal  Islands,  during  the  year  which  has  elai)sed  since  my  last  annual  report. 

The  native  population  of  Saint  Paul  Island,  as  shown  by  the  census  taken  on  the 
1st  of  January,  1880,  embraced  8:5  resident  families,  and  a  total  of  278  souls.  During 
the  year  there  were  9  marriages,  19  births,  and  18  deaths  on  this  island. 

Saint  George  Island,  by  the  census  tal^u  July  1,  1880,  had  a  total  population  of  92 
souls;  the  families  numbered  25,  and  there  were  4  marriages,  5  births,  and  6  deaths 
during  the  vear. 

English  schools  have  been  maintained  during  ei^ht  months  of  the  year  on  both 
islands.  They  were  well  taught,  and  the  progress  made  by  the  pupils  in  their  studies 
■was  not  discreditable.  The  attendance  on  the  Saint  George  school  was  good,  being 
100  per  cent,  of  the  whole  number  of  pupils  enrolled — 24.  There  was  something  of  a 
falling  off  in  the  attendance  on  this  island  over  that  of  the  preceding  year,  the  per- 
centage being  but  75  of  the  enrollment — 4"i. 

**  *  *  *  #  * 

I  am,  sir,  respectfullv,  vour  obedient  servant, 

HARRISON  G.  OTIS, 

Treasury  Agent,  in  charge. 


Office  of  Special  Agent,  Treasury  Department, 

Saint  Paul  Island,  July  30,  1881. 
Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  my  annual  report  on  sealing  operations  and  other 
affairs  at  the  Seal  Islands  during  the  past  year. 

The  last  census  of  Saint  Paul  Island,  taken  December  31,  1880,  shows  a  total  native 
population  of  279  souls.  Two  marriages,  21  births,  and  20  deaths  occurred  during 
that  year. 

Saint  George  Island,  by  the  census  of  July,  1881,  had  a  total  native  population  of 
102  souls.  Two  marriages,  6  births,  and  6  deaths  occurred  during  the  year  on  that 
island. 

English  schools  have  been  maintained  by  the  lessees  on  each  island  during  eight 
mouths  of  the  year,  three  hours  of  the  day.  The  enrollment  of  children  of  school  age 
was,  on  Saint  Paul  Island,  40  ;  on  Saint  George,  28  ;  total,  68. 

The  average  attendance  was  a  fraction  less  than  62.  The  progress  made  is  percepti- 
ble, though  not  rapid  as  heretofore.  On  Saint  Paul  Island  a  Russian  school  has  been 
kept  by  a  sub-priest  (under  a  concession  formerly  made)  during  most  of  the  same 
period,' about  three  hours  a  day,  tive  days  a  week,  church  holidays  excepted.  These 
holidays  are  very  frequent,  amounting  to  some  thirty-three  during  the  last  school 
term,  and  interfere  seriously  with  the  regularity  of  the  school  attendance.  On  this 
account  I  made  the  rule  that,  without  eucroachiug  upon  the  regular  church  holidays 
or  customs,  the  English  school  hours  should  either  be  increased  or  the  term  extended 
80  as  to  make  it  equivalent  to  not  less  than  two  hundred  actual  school  days  of  not 
less  than  three  hours  each. 

I  remain,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

HARRISON  G.  OTIS, 

Treasury  Agent,  in  charge. 
Hon.  William  Windom, 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  Washington,  D.  C. 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 


51 


Office  of  thk  Special  Agent,  Treasury  Department, 

Saint  raid  Island,  July  21,  1882. 
Sir  :  I  have  tbe  houor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  sealiug  business  at  the 
Seal  Islauds  of  Alaska,  for  the  year  euded  July  20,  18'^2. 

■H  #  i  »'*  *  * 

The  mortality  upon  this  island  since  January  1,  1882,  has  been  greater  than  for  the 
same  time  in  any  year  since  the  lease  to  the  Alaska  Commercial  Company.  Thirty-six 
deaths  have  taken  i)lace,  of  which  13  were  adult  males,  9  adult  females,  and  14  were 
children.  Pneumonia  and  consumption  are  the  principal  fatal  diseases.  The  people 
are  irregular  in  their  habits,  careless  in  exposing  themselves  to  the  elements,  do  not 
have  good  nursing  and  attention  while  sick,  and  appear  to  be  reckless  and  fearless  of 
death. 

There  has  been  no  manufacturing  or  drinking  of  quass  by  the  natives  since  I  ar- 
rived here,  in  May.  The  prohibition  of  the  sale  of  sugar,  except  for  the  sick,  seems 
to  have  suppressed  this  evil,  which  has  heretofore  been  a  curse  to  the  people. 

The  amount  of  money  to  be  distributed  to  the  natives  of  Saint  Paul  this  year  is 
$32,008.36.  This  has  been  equitably  apportioned  to  the  widows  of  sealers  who  have 
died  since  the  end  of  the  last  season,  and  to  the  present  working  force,  ascordiug  to 
the  merits  of  each  individual.  The  natives  are  better  paid,  according  to  the  amount 
of  work  they  do,  than  any  class  of  laboiers  in  this  or  any  other  country. 

*  J»  *  71-  W  *  # 

The  payment  to  each  man  amounts  to  more  than  the  earnings  of  an  ordinary  labor- 
ing man  at  the  East  for  a  year,  with  constant  employment.  In  addition,  the  Alaska 
Company  furnish  them  with  house,  meat,  fuel,  salt,  and  schools  free  of  charge.  They 
are  indeed  highly  favored,  and,  as  wards  of  the  Government,  luxuriously  provided 
for. 

The  amount  to  be  distributed  at  Saint  George  is  $8,000. 

The  long  exemption  from  labor,  from  the  end  of  one  season  to  the  beginning  of  the 
next,  is  detrimental  to  the  natives.  It  is  a  sort  of  enforced  idleness.  They  must  of 
necessity  employ  their  time  unprotitably  if  not  engaged  in  actual  industry.  *  *  * 
Many  of  the  people  are  improvident.  A  few  of  them  are  economical,  and  have  de- 
posits at  interest  with  the  Alaska  Commercial  Company,  aggregating  on  both  islands 
on  the  1st  day  of  June,  1881,  $23,087.81.  Every  person  receiving  a  share  in  the  dis- 
tribution is  required  to  keep  to  his  credit  enough  to  secure  to  his  family  a  weekly 
payment  of  $3  until  the  next  distribution  is  made.  This  insures  to  every  family  a 
living  beyond  the  habits  or  improvidence  of  the  husband. 

The  Alaska  Commercial  Company  support  the  widows  and  orphans  of  those  sealers 

who  have  died  without  leaving  property. 

*  «  *"#  *  *  * 

The  health  of  the  natives  on  Saint  George  has  been  good  ;  only  two  deaths  have 
occurred  there  in  a  year,  and  those  were  children. 
Eespectfully  submitted. 

HENRY  A.  GLIDDEN, 

S])ecial  Agent. 
Hon.  Charles  J.  Folger, 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 


Office  of  the  Special  Agent,  Treasury  Department, 

Saint  Paul  Island,  Alaska,  July  30,  1883. 
Dear  Sir  :  I  submit  the  following  as  my  annual  report  of  the  condition  of  affain 
at  the  Seal  Islands  of  Alaska  for  the  year  ending  July  30,  1883: 

The  health  of  the  natives  on  both  islands  has  been  unusually  good  ;  no  epidemic 
has  occurred,  and  few  deaths  have  taken  place. 

The  population  of  Saint  Pan],  as  by  census  taken  on  the  1st  day  of  January,  1883, 
is  as  follows:  77  families;  whole  number  of  actual  residents,  231. 


males. 

Adults 62 

5  to  17  years 21 

Under  5  vears 18 


101 


FEMALES. 

Adults 76 

5  to  17  years 38 

Under  5  years 16 

130 


52  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

The  population  of  Saint  George,  as  by  census  taken  August  1,  1883:  27  families; 
whole  number  actual  residents,  104. 


MALES.  FEMALES. 


I 


Adults 23  I  Adults 32 

Youths 18     Youths 22 

Infants 3  !  Infants 6 

44  !  60 

The  conduct  of  the  people  has  been  exceptionally  good  since  my  last  report.  There 
has  been  no  making  ordrinkiugof  quass,  so  far  as  1  am  informed,  and  no  case  of  in- 
toxication has  come  to  my  knowledge.  This  is  undoubtedly  the  result  of  stopping 
the  sale  of  sugar  except  in  cases  of  sickness  and  upon  the  order  of  the  physician  in 
charge.  The  people  are  very  orderly  and  peaceable.  There  has  been  no  disturbance 
of  any  kind,  except  in  one  instance,  hereafter  mentioned.  They  dress  and  live  well, 
and  imitate  the  Americans  in  that  respect  to  a  large  degree.  They  have  been  obedi- 
ent to  my  orders  and  are  easily  controlled.  They  are  but  grown  children  in  many 
respects,  and  at  times  need  moderate  punishment.  All  that  is  necessary  to  control 
them  is  firmness  and  uniformity  of  discipline. 


Respectfully  yours. 


•  Hon.  Chakles  J.  Folger, 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  Washington,  D.  C. 


HENRY  A.  GLIDDEN, 

Special  Agent,  Seal  Islands. 


Office  of  Special  Agent,  Treasury  Department, 

iSaint  Paul  Island,  July  31,  1884. 
Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  to  you  my  annual  report  of  the  condition  of  aifairs 
at  the  Seal  Islands,  Alaska,  for  the  year  ended  July  30,  1884,  as  follows : 
The  census  of  Saint  Paul,  taken  January  1,  1884,  shows: 

Total  number  of  natives  belonging  to  the  island 219 

Residents  of  other  islands  visiting  here 11 

Total 230 

Composed  of  99  males  and  131  females. 

The  census  of  Saint  George,  taken  January  1,  1884,  shows  : 

Total  number  of  native  inhabitants.  111 ;  composed  of  47  males  and  64  females. 

The  school  maintained  on  Saint  Paul  during  the  past  year  has  been  more  than  usu- 
ally prosperous  under  the  guidance  of  a  new  teacher.  The  number  of  pupils  regis- 
tered 54,  and  the  average  daily  attendance  for  eight  months,  51.59.  In  this  we  chal- 
lenge comparison  with  the  schools  of  an  enlightened  civilization. 

*  «  *  «  *  *  a 

Very  respectfully,  yours, 

HENRY  A.  GLIDDEN, 

Treasury  Agent,  Seal  Islands. 
Hon.  Charles  J.  Folger, 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  Washington,  P.  C. 

Office  of  Special  Agent,  Treasury  Department, 

Saint  Paul  Island,  Alaska,  June  — ,  1885. 

Sir  :  *  *  *  The  school  has  been  w«ll  kept,  and  the  atteudence  equal  to  any  in 
the  United  States,  in  projiortion  to  the  number  of  scholars.  There  has  not  been  a 
single  unexcused  absence. 

The  system  of  fines  for  being  absent  which  I  inaugurated  two  years  ago  has  proved 
successful. 

I  have  not  realized  a  single  fine  for  non-attendance  during  the  past  year. 

The  percentage  of  attendance  for  eight  months  is  98 — very  good  for  half-civilized 
children  ;  fully  equal  to  any  civilized. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

H.  A.  GLIDDEN, 
Treasury  Agent,  Seal  Islands. 
Hon.  Daniel  Manning, 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  Washington,  D.  C. 


education  in  alaska.  53 

Appendix  H. 

exploration  on  the   upper  yukon  river  by   rev.  vincent   c.   sims,  of   the 
church  missionary  society  (episcopal)  of  england. 

Rampart  House,  Mackenzie  River  District, 

J^^orihivest  Territory,  Canada,  November  23,  1883. 

My  Dear  Mr. :  When  1  last  wrote  1  was  at  Peel  River,  but  about  a  month 

after,  I  came  down  here  to  await  the  breaking  up  of  the  river.  While  here  I  was  very 
busy  with  the  Indians,  who  were  coming  in  from  all  directions  with  their  spring  fur 
hunts.  At  that  time  of  the  year  there  is  no  night  here  (in  the  summer  the  sun  doesn't 
set  at  all),  and  if  I  had  wished  I  could  have  had  plenty  of  visitors  at  midnight,  as 
'most  of  the  Indians  are  up  then,  preferring  to  sleep  iu  the  day.  I  left  on  June  15  and 
returned  August  2.5.  Three  Indians  accompanied  me,  and  we  traveled  in  a  bark  cauoe. 
Our  course  lay  down  the  Porcupine  River,  and  as  the  current  is  strong  we  went  along 
quickly.  On  the  way  down  I  came  upon  a  party  of  Indians  from  the  Ramparts,  and 
spent  a  cou])]!i  of  days  witli  them.  I  could  not  stay  longer,  as  provisions  were  scarce, 
80  off  we  went  again.  The  Porcupine  becomes  a  good-sized  stream  as  it  nears  the 
Yukon,  and  there  is  some  pretty  scenery  on  its  banks.  Bnt  it  is  at  the  junction  of  the 
Porcupine  with  the  Yukon  that  the  finest  view  is  to  be  obtained  —  such  an  immen.se 
body  of  water — it  was  really  grand.  A  little  paddling  up-stream  brought  us  to  old 
Fort  Yukon,  once  a  post  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  but  abandoned  by  them  when 
Alaska  became  a  part  of  (he  United  States.  Most  of  the  buildings  are  still  standing 
and  are  partly  occupied  by  Sanyoolyi,  the  chief  of  the  Yukon  Indians.  This  old  man 
is  a  famous  chief  in  these  parts,  and  he  is  held  iu  great  awe  by  the  Indians.  His 
fame,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  is  not  good ;  lie  has  taken  several  lives,  and  as  he  is  a  very 
powerful  man  and  exceedingly  passionate,  the  Indians  fear  lest  he  shall  do  so  again. 
He  has  several  wives  and  a  large  tVunily,  but  I  am  thankful  to  saj^  that  the  sons  do 
not  take  after  their  father;  indeed  I  have  real  hopes  that  one  or  two  of  them  are 
sincere  Christians. 

The  old  chief  gave  us  a  most  gracious  recejition,  and  of  course  we  feasted,  partly 
at  my  ex))ense,  though.  I  soon  saw,  however,  that  we  couldn't  stay  there  —  the  salmon 
had  not  commenced  to  come,  geese  and  ducks  were  scarce,  no  moose  had  been  killed, 
so  that  provisions  were  scarce. 

While  there,  however,  there  was  plenty  to  do.  The  Indians  crowded  round  to  be 
taught,  and  to  buy  books,  and  what  I  saw  ef  these  people  made  me  wish  that  I  could 
stop  longer  with  them.  However,  that  was  impossible,  so  the  next  day  we  resumed 
our  journey.  We  had  now  four  days'  hard  paddling  up-stream  against  a  strong  cur- 
rent before  we  should  see  the  next  baud  of  Indians. 

It  was  pretty  stiff  work,  although  we  kept  out  of  the  main  stream  as  much  as  pos- 
sible, keeping  along  close  to  the  shore.  It  wasn't  always  very  safe  either.  Some- 
times we  would  be  creeping  under  high  banks  undermiued  by  the  water,  which 
"would  every  now  and  then  fall  in  with  a  tremendous  crash,  or  perhaps  we  would  be 
paddling  along  lines  of  fallen  wood,  against  which  the  strong  current  would  threaten 
every  moment  to  dash  us.  Once  or  twice  we  knocked  a  big  hole  in  the  canoe,  but 
happily  for  us  we  were  at  places  where  we  could  get  ashore  ;  otherwise  the  conse- 
quences might  have  been  more  serious. 

Provisions  were  not  over-abundant,  but  we  were  never  without  a  meal ;  the  boys 
always  managed  to  kill  something,  chiefly  ducks  and  geese,  though  both  of  these 
were  unusually  scarce.  Sometimes  we  were  putting  to  shore  with  little  or  nothing 
for  supper  and  breakfast,  when  all  at  once  a  few  geese  would  start  up  close  by,  and 
our  stock  of  provisions  would  be  replenished  for  another  meal  or  two.  And  it  is  very 
noticeable  that,  after  we  reached  the  Indians  and  were  able  to  get  fish  and  meat  from 
them,  we  hardly  ever  saw  a  goose  or  duck.  God's  faithfulness  made  me  feel  ashamed 
of  my  unbelief,  for  although  I  had  told  the  boys  that  we  were  on  God's  work  and  He 
wouldn't  let  us  want,  I  must  confess  that  I  didn't  ahvays  feel  so  confident.  On  our 
fourth  day  we  reached  the  Upper  Ramparts,  which  is  the  name  given  to  the  mountains 
among  which  the  river  runs,  and  which  afford  some  very  beautiful  scenery  sometimes. 
At  this  place  we  came  upon  another  band  of  Indians,  who  welcomed  us  with  firing 
oft"  guns  and  plenty  of  hand-shaking.  Scarcity  of  food  prevented  us  stopping  more 
than  a  couple  of  nights.  They  had  enough  to  provision  us  to  the  next  band  of  In- 
dians, but  not  enough  to  keep  us  there  any  time.  But  they  worked  me  well  while  I  was 
with  them,  and  I  was  cheered  by  the  desire  they  manifested  for  instruction.  The  head 
man  of  the  band  was  the  eldest  son  of  Sanyoolyi,  and  he  had  followed  his  father's 
example  and  taken -two  wives.  I  spoke  to  him  about  it,  and  he  confessed  that  he  was 
wrong,  and  before  I  left  it  was  settled  that  one  of  his  wives  should  leave  hiin.  Ou 
starting  off  again  we  were  accompanied  by  some  Indians  in  their  canoes,  and  I  may 
mention  here  that  two  of  these  Indians  continued  with  us  during  the  rest  of  our  jour- 
ney up  the  river,  traveling  with  us  at  least  300  miles  iu  order  that  they  might  get 


54  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

more  instruction.  Three  days  up-stream  brought  us  to  a  large  band  of  Han  Kuitchiu 
(Eiver  Indians),  or,  as  they  are  sometimes  called,  Gens  des  Fous,  a  name  of  which 
they  are  not  proud,  and  which  they  might,  with  some  reason,  plead  that  they  don't 
deserve. 

These  were  the  first  Indians  I  have  seen  in  this  part  of  the  country  who  live  in 
houses;  I  think,  however,  they  only  do  this  in  the  summer,  as  in  the  winter  they  are 
generally  on  the  move.  They  gave  uie  a  warm  welcome,  provided  me  with  a  large 
tent  capable  of  containing  a  good  number  of  people,  and  crowded  ronnd  me  for  their 
first  les'son.  From  this  time  until  ten  days  later,  when  I  left  them,  I  did  nothing  but 
teach  from  morning  till  night.  Morning  and  evening  prayers  were  conducted,  the 
intervening  time  being  occupied  by  school.  I  should  weary  you  if  I  entered  into 
details.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  almost  all  seemed  most  eager  to  learn,  and  there  were 
some  in  particular  who  gave  me  good  hopes  that  a  real  work  of  grace  was  going  on 
in  their  hearts. 

I  would  hear  them  singing  hymns  when  I  went  to  sleep,  and  I  would  hear  them 
again  when  I  awoke  in  the  morning.  Whether  they  were  at  it  all  night  I  can't  say; 
I  only  know  that  sometimes  when  I  woke  up  in  the  night  singing  would  be  going  on 
still." 

The  salmon  were  now  beginning  to  come,  but  I  fear  mj'  teaching  sadly  interfered 
witli  the  tishing,  and  many  a  salmon  I  think  passed  that  spot  in  safety  because  the 
minister  was  on  the  bank  teaching.  It  was  almost  amusing  sometimes  to  watch  the 
struggle  evidently  going  on  in  the  Indian's  mind.  He  wanted  to  fish,  but  he  saw 
others  being  tanght,  and  he  wanted  to  learn  too,  and  often  the  temptation  would  be 
too  strong,  and  the  net  would  give  place  to  the  book.  ' 

Three  days'  journey  up  the  river  brought  us  to  another  band  of  the  Han  Kuitchiu, 
and  with  these  I  remained  a  week.  My  experience  here  was  the  same  as  that  given 
above  —  they  gave  me  no  rest,  and  I  could  only  get  it  by  running  into  the  woods  and 
hiding  myself,  and  then  the  mosquitoes  visited  me. 

I  was  not  very  sorry  when  we  started  again,  for  I  needed  a  little  rest.  It  was  four 
days'  journey  to  the  next  Indians,  and  on  the  way  we  were  surprised  to  meet  a  survey 
party,*  sent  out  by  the  United  States  Government,  coming  down  the  river  on  a  raft. 
They  were  as  surprised  to  see  me  as  I  was  to  see  them,  and  plied  me  with  questions 
about  the  country,  which,  I  am  afraid,^  I  was  not  enlightened  enough  to  answer  very 
correctly. 

I  suppose  one  result  of  their  visit  will  be  a  new  map  of  the  country,  or  at  all  events 
of  the  Yukon,  which  is  much  needed,  for  the  present  ones  are  by  no  means  correct. 

Two  days  after,  we  arrived  at  Fort  Reliance,  and  found  assembled  there  the  largest 
band  of  Indians  we  had  yet  met.  They  were  also  the  wildest,  and  have  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  very  troublesome  sometimes  with  the  fur  traders.  They  treated  me 
well  enough,  however,  and  during  the  fortnight  I  staid  among  them  I  saw  enough  to 
give  me  a  very  hopeful  view  of  the  progress  of  the  work  among  them.  I  was  con- 
stantly employed  teaching  them,  and  some  of  them  made  very  rapid  progress  while 
I  was  there.  Some  of  them  were  very  impatient,  and  thought  I  did  not  teach  them 
enough,  and  sometimes  when  I  was  at  niy  meals,  or  trying  to  get  a  little  rest,  a  head 
would  be  poked  in  and  "  Minister,  come  and  teach  us,"  would  be  the  cry.  But  I  was 
forced  to  be  idle  sometimes,  for  I  was  really  ill  part  of  the  time,  and  I  think  if  I  had 
had  much  more  of  it  I  should  have  brought  on  a  severe  attack  of  illness.  But  for  all 
that,  although  it  was  hard,  it  was  a  very  happy  work;  the  field  was  white  unto  the 
harvest,  and  I  thank  God  that  I  was  privileged  to  enter  in  and  do  a  little  for  Him. 

I  haven't  dwelt  much  upon -the  dark  side,  perhaps  because  I  experienced  so  much 
of  the  bright.  But  of  course  there  is  a  dark  side,  which  only  makes  it  more  neces- 
sary that  the  Gospel  should  be  taken  to  them.  The  state  of  morals  is  very  bad,  espe- 
cially among  the  women,  and  they  have  great  faith  in  "medicine-making."  They 
fear  their  medicine  men,  who  take  advantage  of  their  superstition  and  rob  them  right 
and  left. 

Thete  Indians  are  called  the  Trodh  tsik  Knitchin,  and  I  think  their  country  lies 
within  the  British  boundary  line,  which  is  close  by  Fort  Reliance. 

There  were  Indians  from  other  tribes  also  there,  .some  from  above  and  others  who 
had  come  across  country  from  the  Tanana  River.  They  had  never  seen  a  minister  of 
the  Gospel  before,  and  they  begged  me  most  earnestly  to  go  back  with  them  to  teach 
their  people.  One  (a  chief)  said,  "  They  were  not  pleased :  God  did  not  care  for  them 
or  He  would  have  sent  a  minister  to  them."  I  told  him  that  God  cared  for  them  very 
much,  and  had  told  His  people  to  send  ministers  everywhere  to  teach  people,  but  that 
they  liad  not  obeyed  Him.  Now  one  bad  come  to  them,  and  I  promised  that  next 
year,  if  possible,  I  would  visit  their  country.  I  hope  (D.  v.)  to  do  so  next  summer, 
and  bj-  the  time  you  get  this  I  suppose  I  shall  be  thinking  of  turning  my  face  home- 
ward again. 

While  with  the  Trodh  tsik  Kuitchin  I  met  a  Mr.  Carr,  from  Arizona,  a  nephew  of 
General  Carr,  who  I  believe  holds  a  command  somewhere  among  the  Apaches.     He 

*  Lieut.  F.  Schwatka,  U.  S.  A. 


THE    REV.    J.    ADOLPHUS    HARTMAXN. 
Publisliecl  thrt)us;h  the.  com  tesy  of  Mrs.  Frank  Leslie. 


p 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  55 


bad  spent  the  winter  in  the  conutry,  and  was  now  wanting  to  get  out.  I  was  glad 
to  have  a  white  companion  again,  and  we  got  on  well  togetlier. 

I  was  waiting  for  the  steamer  which  comes  np  every  year  to  trade  with  the  Indians, 
and  I  hoped  to  go  further  up  the  river  in  her,  but  she  didn't  tnrn  np,  so  we  went 
down  to  meet  her,  and  foimd  that  an  accident  had  happened  to  the  machinery,  and 
she  could  proceed  no  further.  Mr.  MuQuestew,  the  agent  of  the  Alaska  Commercial 
Company,  received  me  most  kituUy,  and  (damages  having  been  repaired  as  far  as 
possible)  gave  me  a  iiassage  down  to  Fort  Yukon,  so  that  that  part  of  the  journey 
was  accomplished  in  a  decidedly  comfortable  way. 

We  parted  at  the  Yukon,  and  we  once  more  took  to  the  canoe,  and  commenced  our 
return  journey  up  the  Porcupine.  We  encountered  much  bad  weather,  which  de- 
layed us  a  great  deal,  so  that  it  was  our  tenth  day  before  we  arrived  at  the  Ramparts, 
thankful  to  God  that  we  had  been  brought  in  safety  to  the  end  of  our  journey.  We 
had  traversed  altogether  a  little  more  than  1,000  miles;  baptisn.s,  115,  chietiy  chil- 
dren, yext  year  I  intend  (i).  v.)  to  go  down  to  Nuklukahyet,  see  the  Indians  there, 
go  up  the  Tanana  River,  and  from  thence  cross  the  country  to  the  Yukon.  I  am 
anxious  to  see  the  Indians  at  Nuklukahyet.  Archdeacon  McDonald  previously  visited 
them,  and  they  wish  for  another  visit  very  much. 


Appendix  I. 

[Diary  of  Rev.  J.  A.  H.  Hartmann  ] 

EXPLORATIOX   IX   WESTERX   ALASKA    BY    THE    MORAVIANS,    REV.   J.    A.    I«.   HARTMANN 
AND   W.    H.    WEINLAXD,    1884. 

April  14,  1884. — I  left  New  Fairtield,  Canada,  for  Bethlehem,  having  been  invited  to 
consult  with  the  directc^i's  of  the  Society  of  the  United  Brethren  for  Propagating  the 
Gospel  among  the  Heathen  as  to  proposed  expedition  to  Alaska. 

J})7'il  15. — Very  early  in  the  morning  I  arrived  at  Bethlehem,  and  was  kindly  enter- 
tained at  the  house  of  Brother  Edm.  de  Schweiuitz.  In  the  evening  there  was  a  meet- 
ing of  the  board.  Brother  Weiuland  and  myself  were  provided  with  ample  funds  for 
the  journey  proposed  to  us,  and  received  leave  to  act  as  circumstances  might  require. 
Our  outfit  was  to  be  procured  at  San  Francisco.  The  purchase  of  photographic  ap- 
paratus was  also  sanctioned. 

Ajyril  16. — In  the  evening  there  was  a  farewell  meeting  in  the  large  church,  at  which 
the  claims  of  Alaska  were  brought  forward.  At  this  service  there  also  took  place  the 
ordination  of  Brother  John  Killbuck,  who  is  to  supply  my  place  at  New  Fairtield  dur- 
ing ray  absence.     *     <     » 

April  27,  Stindni/. — We  arrived  in  San  Francisco  in  the  morning;  put  up  at  the  Russ 
House,  and  went  to  a  Congregational  church  in  the  evening. 

April  28. — After  breakfast,  I  went  in  search  of  Captain  Healy  of  the  United  States 
revenue  cutter  Corwin.  After  some  inquiries  at  the  Government  buildings,  I  went 
on  board,  but  the  captain  was  ashore.  I  found  him  at  last  in  the  Merchants'  Ex- 
change, and  learned  that  the  vessel  was  to  sail  on  the  3d  of  May.  We  purchased  part 
of  our  outfit,  rubber  boots,  coats,  and  blankets,  rifle,  shot-gun,  and  tishing  tackle. 

April  29. — After  breakfast  we  went  on  board  the  Corwin,  and  saw  the  captain  again. 
We  then  procured  canned  provisions  for  Alaska;  also  an  aneroid  barometer,  a  ther- 
mometer, telescope,  blankets,  printed  coiton,  a  tent,  an  ax,  hatchet,  and  saw. 

May  2. — Through  the  Lord's  mercy  I  was  directed  by  Captain  Healy  to  the  Alaska 
Commercial  Company.  I  told  Mr.  Sloss,  one  of  the  partners,  that  the  object  of  our 
visit  to  Alaska  is  to  prepare  the  way  for  preaching  the  Gospel  to  the  Eskimos.  He 
seamed  favorably  impressed  with  the  undertaking,  and  we  felt  his  sympathy  was 
with  us.  The  company  gave  us  a  letter  of  introduction  to  Mr.  Newman,  of  Unalashka, 
asking  him  to  render  us  all  ihe  assistance  in  his  power.  Before  leaving  San  Fran- 
cisco, we  deposited  with  them  our  return  ticket  and  surplus  money,  with  directions  to 
send  them  to  the  Bethlehem  Society  for  the  Pro]>agation  of  the  Gospel  in  case  it 
were  the  Lord's  will  that  we  should  not  return.  Since  we  had  entered  into  negotia- 
tions with  this  company,  I  will  just  mention  a  few  details  concerning  them.  The 
Alaska  Commercial  Company  is  at  present  all-powerful  in  Alaskan  waters,  and  almost 
monopolizes  the  fur  trade  of  that  country.  They  have  three  main  stations,  Unalashka, 
Saint  Michael's,  and  Kadiak,  and  also  the  Seal  Islands.  Their  traders  on  the  Aleutian 
Islands  and  at  the  mainland  stations  of  Nushagak,  Togiak,  and  Kuskokwim  are  sup- 
plied with  goods  for  trading  from  Unalashka,  those  in  the  south  of  the  peninsula  from 
Kadiak,  and  those  in  the  Yukon  district  from  Saint  Michael's.  The  large  steamer,  St. 
Paul,  1,0U0  tons  burden,  sails  between  Unalashka,  Saint  Michael's,  and  the  Seal  Islands. 


56  •  EDUCATION    IN   ALASKA. 

The  smaller  steamer  Dora  and  the  scliooner  Matthew  Turner  are  principally  used  in 
carrjiny  goods  to  and  from  Sau  Francisco  and  Unalashka  to  the  mainland.  On  the 
Kiver  Kuskokwim  there  are  three  stations,  Mumtrekhlagamute,  Kolmakovsky.  and 
Yenizali.  From  the  above  it  ■uill  be  seen  that  the  facilities  for  carrying  siiy)plie8  to  a 
mission  on  the  Kuskokwim  are  good  and  certain.  Indeed,  onr  most  serious  difficulties 
were  at  once  removed  by  our  becoming  acrjuainted  with  the  Alaska  Commercial  Com- 
pany, one  of  these  being  the  doubt  whether  we  should  be  able  to  reach  the  mainland 
at  all.  How  differently  matters  turned  out!  We  had  no  idea  of  having  such  facili- 
ties and  comforts  during  our  journey. 

May  S. — Feeling  much  encouraged  we  prepared  to  embark  in  the  Corwin,  again 
committing  ourselves  into  the  Lord's  hands  for  protection,  help,  and  guidance.  At 
10  a.  m.  we  were  on  board  the  stennier.  It  was  a  tine  day,  and  the  city  and  harbor 
looked  beautiful.  We  found  it  difficulr  to  get  about  ou  deck  as  it  was  full  of  coal 
bags  on  which  we  had  to  walk.  There  were  four  boats  and  a  little  steam-launch  on 
hoard.  At  1  p.  m.  the  anchor  was  weighed  and  we  were  under  steam.  The  United 
States  cutter  Rush  accompanied  us  as  far  as  the  "Golden  Gate,"  as  the  entrance  of 
the  harbor  is  called.  As  we  steamed  alongside  one  another  an  artist  took  a  photo- 
graph of  the  Corwin,  which  the  instantaneous  process  rendered  quite  iiossible.  Near 
the  "Golden  Gate"  the  water  was  very  rough.  Before  leaving  us,  the  Rush  crossed 
our  bows  twice,  giving  a  parking  salute  each  time,  then  returned  to  harbor,  while  the 
Corwin  steamed  against  a  strong  northwest  trade-wind.  As  we  proceeded,  the  uu- 
comfortable  sensations  preceding  sea-sickness  cre])t  upou  me  in  spite  of  my  keeping 
on  deck.  Our  berths  were  made  up  in  the  captain's  cabin,  occupying  the  stern  of  the 
■vessel.  A  board  was  fastened  in  front  of  the  broad  sofa,  and  thus  a  comfortable  bed 
was  formed.  We  took  our  meals  with  the  cajitain.  I  was  glad  to  lie  dowu  towards 
evening,  being  overcome  by  sea-sickness. 

May  t),  Tuesday. — During  the  night,  a  fair  wind  sprang  up,  and  we  were  going  at  9 
knots  an  houn  I  was  still  sick,  though  a  little  easier.  Brother  Weinland  seemed  to 
have  got  over  the  worst.  The  officers,  crew,  and  three  passengers,  the  captain's  son, 
Brother  Weinland,  and  myself,  number  in  all  forty-five  persons.  Among  the  crew  are 
five  Chinamen  who  act  as  cooks  and  stewards.     There  is  no  woman  on  board. 

May  7,  Wednesday. — I  went  on  deck  this  morning,  and  ke|ii  there  all  day.  I  had 
still  no  ap))etite.  It  was  a  fiue  day,  a  rolling  sea  against  us  and  no  wind.  The  pitch- 
ing being  considerable,  I  was  in  a  poor  condition,  though  they  .said  it  was  the  finest 
passage  and  weather  they  had  had  for  a  loiig  time.  Brother  Weinland  seems  quite 
well. 

hiay  8,  Thursday. — Fair  wind  all  day  ;  going  well  ahead  ;  a  little  rain  in  the  morn- 
ing. The  Corwin  is  a  stout,  well-ljuilt  boat,  with  neat,  conipact  engines.  I  enjoyed 
sitting  in  the  engine-room,  where  it  was  warm.  I  felt  thankful  to  the  Lord,  Avho  has 
graciously  helped  us  thus  far;  may  we  never  give  up  our  trust  in  Him. 

Mail  9,  Friday. — We  are  about  halfway  to  Unalashka.  I  feel  more  comfortable  to- 
day than  ou  any  of  my  former  voyages.  After  supper  we  had  our  first  lengthy  con- 
versation with  the  captain.  As  regards  the  natives  in  Alaska,  he  thinks  we  shall  not 
accomplish  much  ;  but  I  told  him  that  our  nii.ssion  to  the  natives  is  a  work  of  faith, 
and  that  the  Saviour  who  ga\e  the  command  to  go  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every 
creature  will  also  help  His  servants  to  obey  it.  He  says  there  are  from  thirty  to  sixty 
vessels  in  Alaska  waters  during  the  summer.  He  thought  the  possibilities  of  getting 
from  Unalashka  to  the  mainland  were  uncertain,  and  we  might  have  to  wait  till  mid- 
summer. 

May  11. — A  Sunday  at  sea.  but  no  religious  service.  A  strong  wind  arose  and  the 
vessel  began  to  pitch  and  roll  terribly.  The  captain  was  up  all  night;  I  was  awake 
too.  The  motion  of  the  vessel  was  sometimes  so  sudden  and  A^iolent  that  I  was  not 
surprised  to  hear  the  captain  exclaim,  "  How  she  kicks!"  It  nas  more  like  a  kicking 
than  anything  else. 

May  15,  Thvr&day. — Rose  with  an  appetite  at  last,  ate  some  breakfast,  and  felt  bet- 
ter. A  fine  breeze  .springing  up  from  the  south  we  made  good  progress.  The  cap- 
tain says  we  shall  see  land  about  4  or  b  p.  m.  I  remained  on  deck  most  of  the  day  and 
had  a  slight  enjoyment  of  sea  voyaging.  How  soon  one  forgets  the  troubles  of  sea- 
sickness! Land  ahead  abor.t  4  p.  m.  The  hope  was  entertained  that  we  might  reach 
Unalashka  at  a  lale  hour  of  the  night,  but  the  wind  slackening  and  turning  against 
us,  it  became  doubtful.  The  shore  was  almost  envelojied  in  mi.st,  but  as  we  drew 
rear  it  cleared  off,  and  we  could  see  the  bold,  picturesque,  snow-clad  mountains.  We 
were  now  in  the  Akoutan  Pa.ss,  the  tide  flowing  strongly  in  with  us. 

Unalashka,  Aleutian  Lslk.s,  May  16  to  :^0. — We  have  entered  the  pretty  little 
harbor,  landlocked,  Avith  nanow  entrance  and  deep  water. 

Our  letter  of  introduction  from  the  company  at  San  Franci.sco  proved  very  useful. 
W^e  were  received  kindly  by  their  friendly  and  polite  agents,  with  whom  we  had  pleas- 
ant intercourse  during  our  Avhule  stay  in  the  island.  Our  baggage  was  x>ut  into  out-  of 
the  storehou.ses.  The  quarters  given  us  iu  the  late  office  of  the  defunct  Western  Fur 
Trading  Comi>auy  consisted  of  two  comfortable  rooms  warmed  by  a  stove,  and  con- 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  57 

tainedbeddiujj,  furuiture,  aud  fuel.  Thither  we  conveyed  our  most  necessary  articles, 
including  the  photographic  apparatus.  We  called  our  lodgings  "  Providence"  ;  they 
were  only  a  few  niinntes'  walk  from  the  comi)auy's  boarding-honse  where  we  took 
our  meals  with  their  agents  and  emi)loycs,  but  we  little  dreamed  that  we  were  being 
entertained  gratis,  whilst  we  had  pleasant  converse  with  those  who  had  visited  and 
could  tell  us  a  good  deal  about  the  places  and  people  most  interesting  to  us.  Mr. 
Applegate,  who  had  visited  the  Nushagak  and  Togiak  Kivers  last  year,  and  found  the 
natives  peaceable  and  inoffensive,  gave  us  a  map  of  those  districts.  Mr.  Conlin  spoke 
of  the  country  (JOO  miles  up  the  Yukon  Kiver  as  very  healthy. 

The  absence  of  the  steamer  Dora  with  Mr.  Newman,  the  head  agent,  on  board,  de- 
tained us  at  Unalashka  for  some  time,  but  we  made  it  our  constant  business  here,  as 
all  through  our  journey,  to  seek  guidance  and  help  from  the  Lord.  Our  prayer  was 
that  He  would  so  influence  the  men  to  whom  we  must  apply  that  their  counsel  might 
result  in  our  doing  His  will  and  not  our  own.  Tho*igh  no  advance  was  made  for 
some  days  towards  our  getting  to  the  mainland,  we  waited  patiently,  nothing  doubt- 
ing. Yet  the  time  began  to  hang  heavily,  for  we  longed  to  be  doing  our  Mastei''s 
work.  At  length,  on  the  24th,  a  steamer  hove  in  sight,  which  proved  to  be  the  Dora 
returning  from  the  islands.  We  were  now  introduced  to  Mr.  Newman,  and  consulted 
him  as  to  our  best  way  of  proceeding  on  our  journey.  He  proposed  that  we  should 
go  to  Nushagak  in  the  Dora,  aud  directed  us  to  Mr.  Clarke  there  for  further  informa- 
tion. We  therefore  awaited  the  departure  of  that  vessel,  and  meanwhile  busied  our- 
selves with  various  preparations. 

Mai/  :{0,  Friday. — We  received  a  sudden  notice  that  the  Dora  would  start  for  Nusha- 
gak, or  Fort  Alexander,  at  2  p.  m.  We  tinished  our  letters  in  haste,  and  packed  up  our 
things,  forgetting  the  poles  of  our  tent.  llv.  Newn)au  advised  us  to  get  light  rubber 
coats  in  imitation  of  the  native  kamlika.  All  theemployi^.s  from  the  office  and  many 
others  bade  us  iarewell  as  we  embarked  on  the  Dora.  We  ha<l  a  number  of  work- 
men, coo])ers,  aud  a  carpenter,  and  some  native  women  on  board  ;  the  latter  were  to 
be  employed  at  Nushagak  in  cleaning  the  salmon  for  salting.  Mr.  Newman  very 
kindly  shipped  a  bidarka  and  another  boat  for  us.  The  day  was  most  beautifully 
bright  and  sunny,  and  tht-  bay  quite  calm.  The  wind  being  in  our  favor,  the  steam 
was  shut  off  and  the  sails  set.  The  motion  of  the  vessel  wasonly  slight,  and,  though 
Brother  Weinland  was  sick,  I  was  well  enough  to  enjoy  the  lovely  evening  and  ad- 
mire the  magnificent  scenery  of  the  island  till  it  disappeared  from  our  view.  I  then 
retired  to  rest,  thanking  the  Lord  for  all  his  mercy  and  kindness  to  us. 

Mai/  ?>1,  Satitrday. — We  passed  the  island  Lnimak,  with  its  high  mountains  envel- 
oped in  clouds. 

June  1,  Whitsunday. — We  were  left  to  ourselves  to  keep  ludy  the  Sabbath  day  be- 
fore the  Lord.  The  contemplation  of  Zech.  ix,  10,  was  sweet  and  eucomaging.  "He 
shall  speak  peace  unto  the  heathen;  and  His  d(fininion  shall  be  from  sea  to  sea,  and 
from  the  river  to  the  ends  of  the  earth."  In  conversation  with  the  captain  as  to  the 
establishment  of  a  mission  among  the  hatives  on  the  mainland,  he  advised  the  Kus- 
kokwini,  as  there  would  be  facilities  of  communication.  Tlie  steamer  Dora  goes  up 
the  river  every  spring,  and  is  met  by  other  boats,  which  take  the  goods  for  the  traders 
a  distance  of  about  500  miles  up  the  river.  By  means  of  a  good  sailing  boat  we  could 
connuand  the  river  and  perhaps  the  island  Nunivak,  and  the  opposite  coast.  We 
]>rayed  the  Lord  to  make  known  to  us  His  will,  and  to  give  us  wisdom  and  good  un- 
derstanding in  the  selection  of  a  jilace.  At  7  p.  m.  we  neared  Cape  Coustantine.  The 
sea  was  smooth  as  glass,  aud  immense  flocks  of  sea-fowl  were  seen  on  the  surface. 
At  ten  the  anchor  was  dropped,  the  captain  fearing  *(j  enter  the  dangerous  waters  of 
the  Nushagak  Bay  before  daybreak. 

June  2,  Monday. — When  we  arose  we  found  the  ship  steaming  carefully  along  in 
sight  of  Cape  Coustantine.  The  land  is  very  low,  but  mountains  still  covered  with 
snow  rose  inland,  and  towards  Togiak  Bay.  About  8  a.  m.  two  natives  approached  in 
their  kayaks.  They  came  on  board,  the  kayaks  being  hauled  up  also.  One  was  the 
pilot  on  the  look-out  for  the  Dora,  as  there  are  some  difiicult  channels  to  get  thi'ough 
before  reaching  her  anchorage  at  Fort  Alexander.  Here  we  arrived  at  half-])ast  two, 
when  the  anchor  was  dropped  in  deei»  water  a  mile  and  a  half  distant  from  the  shore. 

By  the  Lord's  help  and  goodness  another  stage  of  our  journey  was  safely  accom- 
plished. •  About  3  p.  m.  Mr.  Clarke,  the  company's  agent,  and  two  natives  arrived  in 
a  theee-holed  bidarka.  The  Greek  priest  also  came  on  board,  and  we  noticed  that  the 
native  women  from  Unalashka  saluted  him  by  kissing  his  hand,  extended  for  that 
l)iiri)ose.  We  were  introduced  to  him,  jMr.  Clarke  acting  as  our  interpreter.  Nusha- 
gak, or  Fort  Alexander,  lies  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  which  is  3  or  4  miles  wide 
here,  and  at  high  tide  piesents  a  very  fine  a[)pearance,  but  at  low  Avater  shows  large 
mud  banks.  The  salmon  season  had  just  begun.  A  fine  specimen  was  brought  on 
board  by  the  natives,  measuring  three  feet  six  inches,  and  we  had  ihe  pleasure  of 
tasting  this  magnificent  fish.  Nushagak  is  small,  though  the  most  important  place 
between  the  Yukon  and  the  Alaskan  Peninsula.     It  is  built  on  the  side  of  a  rather 


58  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

steep  acclivity.  The  company's  offices  and  the  traders' dwellings  are  on  the  lower 
terrace,  reached  by  fifteen  steps,  seventy  more  steps  leading  to  the  upper  terrace  with 
the  Greek  church,  aud  the  houses  of  the  priest  and  deacon.  To  right  and  left  on  the 
side  of  the  hill  nestle  the  earth  huts  of  the  natives.  Opposite  Nushagak  to  the  west, 
numerous  uiouutains  rise  steep  and  abrupt  from  a  level  plain  stretching  10  to  30 
miles  from  the  river,  aud  are  utterly  devoid  of  timber.  Airiong  them  are  some  pict- 
uresque lakes  ;  one  of  them,  Abakuakik,  is  well  studded  with  beautiful  pine-covered 
islands. 

June  3,  Thursday. — The  Dora  steamed  up  the  river  a  distance  of  7  miles,  Mr.  Clarke 
acting  as  pilot.  Here  a  shed  for  salting  and  barreling  salmou  was  to  be  put  up  aud 
a  house  for  the  men,  who  had  come  from  Uualashka  with  the  timber.  Here  I  made 
the  acquaintance  of  the  famous  Eskimo  dogs.  They  are  very  handsome  aud  much 
tamer  than  those  iu  Labrador,  indeed  they  came  to  I)e  stroked  aud  petted. 

We  were  greatly  interested  in  watchiug  the  landing  of  the  timber  for  the  shed. 
Strong  ropes  were  stretched  from  the  vessel  to  the  shore,  by  means  of  which  the  boats 
were  pulled  to  aud  fro.  The  sheTl  was  soon  erected.  I  noticed  that  the  natives  couUl 
carry  heavy  weights.  Nearly  all  were  dressed  ih  coats  made  of  the  skins  of  squirrels. 
The  men  crop  their  black  hair  iu  various  ways,  some  leaving  a  crown  of  longer  hair. 
The  women's  hair  was  neglected  and  stunted  in  its  growth.  The  young  people  are 
very  rosy.     The  race  is  comparatively  diminutiAc,  the  women  particularly  so. 

June  4,  JVtdiiesdai/. — A  beautiful,  warm  day.  We  had  an  encouraging  text:  "  Unto 
the  upright  there  ariseth  light  in  the  darkness"  (Psalm  cxii.  4).  O,  Lord,  let  light 
arise  to  us!  Unloading  began  very  early,  all  hands  at  work.  Mr.  Clarke  came  iu 
his  boat  and  after  dinner  we  sailed  with  him  back  to  Nushagak.  The  banks  are  a 
deep,  soft  mud,  so  boards  were  laid  from  the  boat  to  the  shore  iu  order  to  laud.  Pres- 
ently Mr.  Clarke  accompanied  us  on  a  visit  to  the  Greek  priest,  who  was  dressed  in 
his  black  gown.  He  was  very  friendly  and  communicative,  and  readily  replied  to 
all  questions.  He  claims  the  Nushagak  and  Togiak  districts  as  his  parish,  and  showed 
us  that  according  to  his  books  he  lias  '2.476  comnuuiicants.  The  natives  are  required 
to  express  belief  in  the  teaching  of  the  Greek  Church,  the  Holy  Trinity,  and  in  Christ 
as  the  Saviour  of  mankind.  Then  they  are  baptized  and  immediately  after  confirmed 
aud  become  conauunicant  member's.  Their  children  are  also  baptized,  and  supposed 
to  be  afterwards  taught.  At  our  request  he  took  us  to  the  church  and  showed  and 
explained  everything:  the  altar  with  the  silken  cloth,  consecrated  by  the  bishop,  on 
which  lay  the  Gospels;  the  coniinunioii  service,  from  which  the  bread  and  wine  mixed 
together  are  given  in  a  spoon  ;  and  pictures  i-epresenting  Christ  and  some  of  the  saints. 
The  church  is  a  neat  building,  the  roof  painted  green  as  usual.  In  the  course  of 
conversation  he  suggested  to  us  the  Kuskokwim,  as  an  unoccupied  field.  Our  prayer 
to  the  Lord  had  frequently  been  that  He  would  direct  us  in  the  right  way  by  the  men 
and  means  he  chose.  So  we  took  it  as  coming  from  Him  that  the  Greek  priest  pointed 
out  that  river,  and  came  to  the  conclusion  to  abandon  all  search  for  a  suitable  local- 
ity in  the  districts  occupied  by  the  Greek  Church.  We  determined  to  explore  the 
Kuskokwim  as  far  up  the  river  as  it  was  advisable,  aud  on  our  return  to  see  Good 
News  Bay,  unless  the  Lord  should  direct  us  otherwise.  On  re-entering  the  boat,  Alexy, 
a  little  man,  carried  me  through  the  mud,  and  when  he  was  setting  me  down  I  nearly 
lost  my  balance,  narrowly  escaping  a  cold  mud  and  water  bath.  We  reached  the  ves- 
sel at  half-past  nine.  The  water  being  as  smooth  as  glass,  we  could  see  white  whales 
and  salmon  going  up  the  river. 

June  b,  Thursday. —I  commenced  to  gather  words  and  expressions  such  as  we  were 
most  likely  to  use  later  on,  when  we  shall  probably  travel  entirely  iu  the  company  of 
the  natives.  It  is  slow  and  difficult  work.  There  seems  to  be  a  great  deal  of  fish 
here.  The  uatives  catch  them  in  small  dip-nets  close  to  the  bank  of  the  river.  A 
king  salmou,  brought  on  board  by  a  native,  measured  3  feet  10  inches  in  length,  and 
36  inches  round  the  thickest  part  of  the  body,  aud  weighed  41  pounds.  The  weather 
continues  very  fine,  aud  it  is  daylight  till  half-past  10  p.  m. 

June  6,  Friday. — They  loaded  small  logs  from  the  pine  forests  for  Togiak.  Amongst 
other  photographs  I  took  one  of  the  Greek  priest  and  his  deacons,  at  the  former's  re- 
quest. In  acknowledgment  he  made  me  a  present  of  an  ivory  inkstand,  ruler,  aud 
penholder,  made  by  a  native  from  the  teeth  of  a  walrus.  Mr.  Clarke  read  us  a  letter 
he  had  written  to  the  company's  agent,  Mr.  Zipri,  on  the  Kuskokwim,  commending 
us  to  his  care  and  soliciting  his  aid  iu  furthering  the  work  we  have  in  hand.  So  the 
Lord  provides  for  us.  We  returned  to  our  steamer  about  half-past  9,  having  had  to 
wait  for  the  tide.  It  was  the  first  time  we  had  tried  the  bidarkas  ;  we  like  them  very 
much. 

June  7,  Saturday. — Brother  W^einland  and  I  unpacked  our  trunks,  selecting  and 
making  into  parcels  only  such  things  as  would  be  necessary  for  our  journey  up  the 
Kuskokwim.  We  left  the  remainder  of  our  goods  in  Mr.  Clarke's  care  till  our  re- 
turn. 

June  8,  Sunday. — After  breakfast  we  both  went  ashore  and  attended  the  Greek 
church,  having  previously  notified  our  intention  to  the  priest.     On  enteriug  the  build- 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  59 

ing  we  were  at  once  conducted  to  two  chairs  placed  within  the  altar  railinoj.  Wo 
had  a  good  view  of  all  that  was  going  on,  though  we  did  not  get  a  clear  insight  into 
the  long  and  elaborate  service,  which  lasted  nearly  three  hours.  The  priest  and  dea- 
cons wore  gorgeous  robes  of  a  fellow  color,  in  which  gold  threads  were  woven.  The 
sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered  to  about  twenty-Hve  children  ;  they 
■were  held  up  and  the  priest  put  a  mixture  of  bread  and  wine,  or  bread  and  water, 
into  their  mouths  with  a  spoon.  Some  of  the  little  mouths  had  to  be  opened  to  re- 
ceive it.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  service,  all  came  forward  and  kissed  a  crucifix  pre- 
sented to  them  by  the  priest,  some  also  kissing  his  hands.  I  had  a  lengthy  conversa- 
tion with  Mr.  Clarke,  who  wished  us  every  success  in  our  uiulertaking  ;  he  could  not 
promise  us  much  pleasure,  but  rather  hardships.  Hitherto,  we  have  had  no  trouble 
or  privations,  lieing  well  cared  for  and  assisted  by  the  company  and  their  agents. 
We  looked  to  the  Lord  for  further  help  and  guidance.  We  returned  to  our  ship  at 
half-past  9. 

June  1',  Monday. — At  3  p.  ni.  we  started  for  Igagik,  on  the  Alaskan  peninsula.  There 
Mr.  Clarke  wished  to  establish  anew  fishing  station  under  the  management  of  a  half- 
breeil,  Paul.  This  Paul  is  the  only  native  we  met  who  could  speak  English.  He  was 
accompanied  by  his  wife  and  three  native  assistants.  Mr.  Clarke  shipped  two  bidarkas 
for  our  use,  and  instructed  Alexy',  a  native,  to  go  to  Togiak  and  secur\;  four  natives 
to  go  with  US  to  the  Kuskokwim,  and  bring  us  back  to  Nusliagak  in  the  bidarkas. 
The  trip  to  Igagik  was  most  pleasant,  sea  calm,  and  weather  tine.  As  before,  our 
careful  captain  cast  anchor  about  four  or  tive  miles  off  the  mouth  of  the  Igagik  River. 
One  of  the  ship's  boats  and  Paul's  large  open  boat  were  sufficient  for  the  landing  of 
the  goods.  The  coast  as  viewed  from  the  vessel  is  low,  with  gravely  beach,  and  high 
mountains  rising  inland.  On  the  return  of  the  boats  the  vessel  made  for  the  Togiak, 
neariug  and  rounding  Cape  Coustantine. 

June  10,  Tuesday. — Got  up  at  seven  after  a  good  night's  rest.  We  were  steaming 
up  the  Togiak  Bay,  and  passing  a  number  of  small  islets,  called  the  "  W.alrns  Islands," 
some  of  which  rise  abruptly  out  of  the  sea.  Looking  up  towards  the  mountains  that 
shut  in  the  valley  of  the  Togiak,  I  could  not  help  wishing  we  could  ascend  that  river. 
The  scenery  is  beautiful,  quite  different  from  the  Nushagak.  The  coast  is  gravely 
and  rocky;  mountains,  sloping  down  to  the  water's  edge,  line  the  left  shore  of  the 
bay.  The  water  of  the  river  is  splendidly  clear.  Casting  anchor  at  7  a.  m.  a  long 
■way  from  the  station,  we  soon  saw  a  lleet  of  kayaks  bringing  the  natives  to  the  ves- 
sel. Seeing  one  old  man  cross  himself  three  times,  we  were  led  to  supi)Ose  that  they 
belonged  to  the  Greek  Church.  Mr.  Clarke's  sub-agent  also  came  on  board.  We  went 
ashore  to  see  the  station.  It  is  ten  miles  from  the  village  Togiakamute,  in  a  lonely 
place,  on  high  rocky  banks,  and  consists  of  two  small  log  houses;  one  is  used  by  the 
trader  for  storing  his  furs,  skins,  an<l  walrus  teeth;  the  othtr  as  a  magazine  for  goods 
for  trading  purposes.  The  annual  visit  of  the  steamer  is  «i[uite  an  event  here;  so 
about  100  natives  had  congregated,  some  to  carry  the  goods  and  building  materials 
for  a  new  store-house  up  the  steep  banks,  others  no  doubt  from  curiosity.  It  was  a 
fine  day,  the  sun  shining  brightly,  and  the  mosquitoes  were  very  troublesome.  Whilst 
Mr.  Anderson,  the  carpenter,  put  uj)  the  building,  I  sat  down  by  some  natives,  and 
tried  to  become  acquainted  with  some  of  their  words.  Soon  a  great  number  were 
squatting  all  around  me.  They  willingly  repeated  the  words  over  and  over  till  I  could 
catch  them  properly,  and  I  managed  to  learn  the  names  of  the  different  parts  of  the 
body.  They  told  me  the  language  used  on  the  Kuskokwim  and  Yukon  is  the  same 
as  theirs.  I  amused  them  by  allowing  them  to  look  through  the  photographic  camera. 
They  observe  closely,  and  seemed  to  be  interested  in  what  they  saw.  I  concluded 
that  they  are  teachable  and  willing  to  be  led.  Some  of  the  men  seemed  rather  tall 
for  Eskimos,*and  some  of  the  women  had  two  lines  of  tattoo  marks  from  the  corner 
of  the  under  lip  reaching  to  the  chin:  all  looked  dirty. 

June  11,  Wednciiday. — Three  of  the  nien  whom  Alexy  had  secured  to  go  with  us  to 
the  Kuskokwim  drew  back,  but  he  promised  to  do  his  best  for  us  before  :3  p.  m.,  when 
the  vessel  would  start.  The  time  drew  near,  but  no  natives  had  appeared,  and  -we 
were  in  somewhat  of  a  dilennna.  Just  at  the  last,  however,  an  old  man  and  three 
young  ones  made  their  appearance. 

Old  Washili  had  been  to  the  Kuskokwim  before,  and  knew  the  river  well.  The 
others  were  Chimeyuue,  Washili  the  younger,  and  Nichohtiou. 

Mr.  Anderson  pronounced  them  a  line  crew,  and  such  they  proved.  We  left  about 
4  p.  m.,  and  a  mist  which  rather  hindered  our  progress  soon  cleared.  The  natives, 
though  rather  phlegmatic  on  shore,  are  the  reverse  in  their  kayaks,  and  it  was  amus- 
ing to  watch  them  trying  to  keep  up  with  the  steamer.  Passing  the  treeless  islan<], 
Hegemeister,  we  retired  To  rest  before  the  shi]i  got  abreast  of  Cape  Pierce,  thanking 
the  Lord  for  all  His  mercies  to  us. 

June  12, Thursday. — We  are  now  at  length  in  the  mouth  of  the  River  Kuskokwim. 
Thns  far  the  Lord  has  helped  us.  "  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul !  "  ^' He  that  hath 
helped  thee  hitherto,  will  help  thee  all  thy  journey  through."  We  passed  Cape  New- 
enham  in  the  earlv  morniuir.     Mountains  were  to  be  seen  on  the  right  all  along  th& 


€0  EDUCATION   IN    ALASKA. 

shore,  but  uo  laud  is  yet  visible  to  the  left.  The  entrance  of  ,Good  News  Bay  is 
marked  by  a  hill  called  the  Sii<;ar  Loaf.  We  have  begun  to  put  our  things  into  srnall 
compass,  so  as  easily  to  be  stowed  away  in  the  bottom  of  the  boat.  The  sailors  are 
taking  soundings,  and  find  that  we  are  still  in  deep  water.  Navigation  is  here  some- 
what dangerous,  as  there  is  an  absence  of  all  shoal-marks  or  buoys.  The  captain  is 
carefully  watching  the  results  of  the  soundings,  which  gradually  indicate  a  decrease 
in  depth.  When  about  2.30  p.  m.  the  lead  showed  a  depth  of  only  five  fathoms,  the 
captain  feared  to  proceed,  and  cast  anchor  7  or  8  miles  from  the  low  bank  of  the  river. 
Scanning  the  distant  shores  on  the  look-out  for  the  traders,  who  always  come  down 
in  good  time  to  meet  tlie  vessel,  we  were  not  long  kept  iu  suspense.  Soon  four  boats 
were  seen  to  leave  the  shore,  and  in  an  hour's  time  they  reached  the  vessel.  They 
were  manned  by  native  oarsmen,  under  the  command  of  the  Alaska  Commercial 
Company's  agents,  Messrs.  Zipri  and  Lind.  These  gentlemen,  although  Finns,  speak 
English  well.  The  two  other  agents  were  Nicolai  Dormeutott",  a  Russian,  who  had 
been  resident  iu  the  country  for  about  thirty  years,  and  Nicolai  Komolkoshen,  a  civ- 
ilized Eskimo.  The  two  latter  are  not  aeq*n;iinted  with  English.  The  traders  had 
brought  furs  for  the  company,  and  took  on  board  tbe  stores  for  conveyance  up  the 
river.  Wo  were  courteously  received  by  them,  having  been  recommended  to  their 
care  and  hospitality  by  Mr.  Clarke.  Mr."  Zipri,  who  was  on  his  way  to  Sau  Francisco, 
looked  favorably  upon  our  enterprise,  and  promised  assistance.  He  is  taking  with 
him  a  half-breed  to  receive  education  in  that  city. 

The  steam  crane  speedily  placed  the  stores  and  our  own  baggage  on  board  the  large, 
open  skin  boats,  of  from  six  to  eleven  tons  burden.  The  boats  then  left  the  ship, 
and  we  followed  in  our  three-holed  bidarkas,  after  finishing  our  letters.  At  8  p.  m.  we 
bade  farewell  to  our  good  captain  and  his  crew,  and  stepjied  into  our  boats.  Brother 
Weinland  and  myself  .seated  ourselves  iu  the  center  holes  of  the  bidarkas,  the  two 
others  being  occupied  by  the  native  oarsmen.  A  strange  feeling  came  over  me,  when, 
parting  from  the  company  of  our  friends,  we  sailed  alone  over  this  wide  expanse  of 
water  in  our  frail  skin  boats.  The  larger  boats,  preceding  us,  served  as  our  guides. 
A  long  twilight  followed  the  sunset  at  9.15  p.  m.  After  rowing  for  three  hours  ayd  a 
half  we  reached  our  first  halting-place,  and  felt  somewhat  stiff  and  tired.  This  place, 
named  Ishingackmute,  occupies  the  site  of  a  former  Eskimo  village,  and  is  near  the 
mouth  of  a  small  but  deep  river.  Here  the  company  has  erected  a  wooden  frame 
house  for  the  reception  of  the  traders'  goods,  previous  to  their  conveyance  up  river. 
Twilight  had  not  yet  deepened  into  night  by  the  time  we  had  completed  this  first 
stage  of  our  journey.  The  natives  soon  kindled  a  fire,  and  a  midnight  meal,  consist- 
ing of  broiled  ham,  Graham  bread,  and  black  tea,  was  prepared  by  the  traders,  who 
kindly  considered  us  their  guests  during  the  whole  of  our  travelings  and  sqjourniugs 
with  them.  We  had  pitched  our  tent,  but  were  invited  by  Mr.  Lind  to  occupy  the 
floor  of  the  store-house  in  preference.  A  wolf's  skin  and  bear's  skin  spread  on  the 
floor  served  as  bed,  and,  using  our  coats  as  pillows,  we  covered  ourselves  with  a 
blanket.  Ere  falling  asleep,  my  thoughts  wandered  over  the  past,  and  I  returned 
thanks  to  the  Lord  for  the  very  gracious  leadings  which  enabled  us  to  travel  up  this 
river  in  company  with  the  traders. 

June  13,  Fridaii. — We  got  up  at  9  a.  m.,  feeling  none  the  worse  for  having  slept  on 
80  hard  a  bed.  After  breakfast  I  photographed  the  store-house,  some  natives,  and  an 
Eskimo's  grave.  It  is  i;ustomary  here  to  bury  above  ground.  The  dead  body  is  laid 
in  a  rude  box  made  of  logs  of  drift-wood,  raised  by  other  logs  to  a  height  of  two  or 
three  feet  above  the  ground,  and  covered  with  the  same  material  to  protect  the  re- 
mains from  the  dogs.  All  that  belonged  to  the  deceased  is  placed  on  or  around  his 
cofSn,  as  the  natives  believe  that  if  they  keep  any  of  the  property  of  the  departed 
they  will  be  haunted  by  his  spirit.  This  shows  that  these  people  believe-to  some  ex- 
tent at  least  in  a  future  existence.  How  I  wished  I  could  speak  with  the  natives  of  the 
Lord  .Tesus,  who  is  Himself  the  resurrection  aud  the  life!  The  boats  put  ofl:'  once 
more  for  the  remainder  of  the  goods,  returning  towards  evening,  when  it  began  to 
rain.  Mr.  Lind  speaks  Russiau,  and,  as  he  employs  a  native  inter])reter,  he  is  able  to 
trade  with  the  natives  in  an  intelligent  manner.  For  about  forty  or  fifty  squirrel 
skins  the  natives  receive  two  skeins  of  netting  twine.  A  land  otter  has  about  the 
same  purchasing  power. 

June  14,  Satitrdai/. — The  natives  began  to  reload  the  boats  from  the  store-house. 
Nicolai  Komolkoshen,  the  manager  of  the  lower  station,  is  a  member  of  the  Greek 
Church,  and  a  man  of  good  common  sense,  in  all  his  habits  more  like  a  white  man 
than  an  Eskimo.  He  speaks  Russian  very  well,  but  knows  little  English,  though  he 
is  anxious  to  learn  it.  The  boy  whom  Mr.  Zipri  is  taking  with  liim  to  San  Francisco 
is  Nicolai's  adopted  son,  and  the  father  told  fls  that  if  he  could  have  had  him  edu- 
cated here  he  would  not  have  sent  him  to  America.  This  shows  the  desirability  of 
establishing  a  school. 

Dinner  at  3  p.  m.  consisted  of  duck  soup  and  an  abundance  of  eggs.  There  is  no 
fear  of  our  starving  whilst  with  the  traders.     Nicolai's  station,  Mumtrekhlagamute, 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  61 

is  about  lUO  iiiilos  from  the  Dora's  anclioraj;e,  and  the  journey  thither  occupies  three 
days. 

June  15,  Sunday. — Owing  to  contrary  north  winds  we  were  unable  to  resume  our 
journey.  Mr.  Liud  is  very  frieully  aud  obliging,  and  would  like  to  see  us  establish 
a  school  at  Kolniakovskj^.  From  him  and  his  interpreter  we  gathered  the  foUowino- 
facts  with  regard  to  the  beliefs  and  superstitions  of  the  Eskimos.  Tiiey  know  noth- 
ing of  an  Almighty  Creator,  but  imagine  that  all  things  came  spontaneously  into 
being.  They  believe  in  a  fntur(3  life,  but  have  no  conception  either  of  a  heaven  or  a 
hell.  They  are  alraid  of  the  spirit  of  a  deceased  person  (or,  as  they  name  it,  his 
shadoiv),  though  they  do  not  quite  know  how  it  can  injure  them. 

The  Eskimo  knows  when  he  is  doing  wrong.  They  do  not  believ  e  in  a  Good  Spirit, 
though  they  conceive  the  existence  of  an  evil  one.  They  think  that  such  natural 
phenomena  as  thunder  and  lightning  are  due  to  tlie  agency  of  some  superior  being. 
Any  one  carried  off  by  sickness  is  said  to  die  a  natural  death,  whilst  all  cases  of  sudden, 
disease  are  attributed  to  the  direct  iutiueuce  of  medicine  men,  or  Shamans,  supposed 
to  be  endowed  by  the  evil  spirit  with  supernatural  powers.  The  healing  of  a  sick 
man,  or  the  performance  of  some  extraordinary  feat,  insures  recognition  as  a  Shaman. 
The  Shaman,  they  say,  can  kill  an  Eskimo,  but  not  a  white  man.  In  company  with 
Mr.  Liud  we  closed  the  day  by  reading  I  .John  iv,  and  then  offered  fervent  prayers  to 
the  Lord  for  the  natives,  a  number  of  whom  were  present,  watching  our  proceedings, 

June  16,  Monday. — After  breakfast  we  prepared  to  continue  our  journey,  but  were 
again  prevented  by  the  adverse  winds.  The  country  on  the  lower  Kuskokwim  is  a 
flat  waste,  entirely  destitute  of  trees  and  even  of  shrubs,  covered  only  with  a  damp, 
spongy  bed  of  moss  or  "tundra,"  from  six  inches  to  a  foot  in  depth.  The  deposits  of 
drift-wood,  the  only  fuel  here,  sliow  to  what  a  height  the  river  must  occasionally  rise 
above  its  ordinary  level.  The  Eskimo  villages  are  built  close  to  the  river,  and  must 
at  such  times  suffer  greatly  from  the  floods.     A  dreary,  dreary  country! 

At  the  halting-places  on  our  journey  the  inhabitants  of  the  native  villages  are  pro- 
vided by  the  agent  with  tea,  sugar,  and  flour.  They  shoot  large  quantities  of  ducks, 
geese,  aud  other  water-fowls,  aud  bring  in  numbers  of  eggs.  Of  these  they  receive 
their  share.  They  consider  the  raw  blubber  of  the  white  whale  a  delicacy.  Their 
manner  of  eating  it  is  certainly  peculiar.  Holding  a  knife  in  the  right  hand  and  a 
piece  of  blubber  in  the  left,  they  fix  their  teeth  firmly  in  the  latter,  and  saw  off  a 
portion  with  the  knife.  One  of  tlieir  dishes  consists  of  flour  mixed  with  oil  or  grease. 
lu  partaking  of  this  they  employ  either  their  fingers,  or  a  chip  of  wood  in  lieu  of  a 
spoon.  They  appreciate  spoons,  howevex,  when  they  are  able  to  obtain  them.  The 
appearance  of  the  uncivilized  Eskimos  is  not  [)repossessing,  as  they  neither  wash 
themselves  nor  comb  their  hair.  Their  features  are  not  amiss;  a  good  many  liave 
thin  mustaches,  and  rosy,  well-shaped  cheeks.  They  are  of  a  lively  temperament, 
fond  of  sports  aud  games. 

June  17,  Tuesday. — The  night  was  cold  and  windy,  and  I  was  unable  to  keep  myself 
warm.  The  morning  was  clear  and  cold,  but  the  wind  is  still  adverse.  Time  begins- 
to  hang  heavy  on  our  hands. 

We  tried  to  read  alond  to  the  natives  from  the  Eskimo  Testament,  as  used  in  Labra- 
dor, but  finding  that  they  did  not  understand,  we  desisted,  lest  they  should  consider 
it  a  ceremony  akin  to  those  of  the  Greek  Church.  We  long  to  tell  them  of  the  living 
Christ  in  living  words. 

Mr.  liind  gave  us  a  few  more  particulars  about  them.  The  men  spend  their  time  in 
hunting  and  fishing,  leaving  all  other  work  to  the  women.  The  nuirriage  tie  lacks 
permanence.  If  a  man  tires  of  his  wife,  he  leaves  her  and  marries  again.  Some 
women  thus  have  a  number  of  husbands  in  succession.  In  some  cases,  however,  the 
union  is  of  long  duration.  The  women  are  very  intelligent,  and  those  living  at  the 
stations  have  learned  to  perform  the  various  household  duties,  and  to  j)ractice  personal 
neatness  and  cleanliness. 

June  18,  Wednesday. — After  a  stay  of  five  days  at  this  first  halting-place,  we  were  at 
last  able  to  proceed  upon  our  way.  At  2  a.  m.  all  were  aroused,  and  without  waiting 
to  take  any  refreshment,  we  set  out  to  reach  the  next  village  before  the  turn  of  the 
tide.  It  was  a  clear,  sharp  morning,  the  sun  had  not  yet  risen ;  and  the  crew,  who, 
like  ourselves,  had  not  tasted  food,  had  to  row  for  a  distance  of  eight  miles.  Feeling 
very  cold,  we  each  took  an  oar,  and  joined  the  men  in  pulling.  At  7  a.  m.  we  reached 
Kuskokwagamute,  a  village  of  about  ten  barrabaras,  or  native  houses.  On  our  land- 
ing, the  natives  brought  us  a  quantity  of  salmon.  Soon  a  good  fire  was  kindled,  and 
breakfast  cooked.  The  rays  of  the  sun  presently  increased  in  strength,  and  being 
warmed  and  refreshed,  we  endeavored  to  go  to  sleep,  but  were  unable  to  do  so  on 
account  of  the  mosquitoes.  Some  women  came  from  the  village,  bringing  with  them 
a  few  articles  for  sale.  Besides  the  two  usual  tattoo  m.arks  from  the  corners  of  the 
mouth  to  the  chin,  these  women  had  a  small  hole  in  their  lower  lip,  in  which  they 
placed  their  sewing  needle  when  not  in  use. 

A  favorable  wind  springing  up,  we  left  our  halting-place  at  1  o'clock,  and  at  .i  p.  ni. 
reached  the  village  of  Apokachamute,  situated  close  to  the  mouth  of  a  small  but  deep 


62  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

tributary  of  the  Kuskokwiin,  and  u umbering  about  150  inhabitants.  A  good  luauy 
■women  and  children,  standing  at  a  little  distance,  watched  us  disembark  and  pitch 
our  tents.  Some  of  the  children  were  ])lentifully  adorned  with  beads.  All  were 
dressed  in  the  usual  parka,  or  skin  coat.  The  men  had  two  holes  pierced  near  the 
corner  of  the  lower  lip,  in  which  were  inserted  white  ivory  studs.  Washili  and 
Nicholaiou  were  here,  having  preceded  us  by  a  few  days.  We  saw  numbers  of  beau- 
tiful salmon  lying  on  the  bank,  waiting  to  be  dressed  and  dried. 

Here  we  slept  in  our  tent  for  the  lirst  time  on  a  bed  of  long  grass,  covered  with 
grass  matting  of  native  numufactuie,  two  large  india-rubber  blankets,  a  wolf's  skin 
or  bear's  skin,  .nud  a  blanket.  We  covered  ourselves  with  another  ])lain  blanket  and 
one  of  iudia-rublier,  and  made  our  coats,  *&,c.,  serve  as  our  pillows.  The  tent  aftbrded 
us  ])rotection  not  only  against  wind  and  weather,  but  also  against  the  mosquitoes. 

June  19,  niursday. — We  were  called  at  3  a.  m.,  and  after  some  slight  refreshment 
were  soon  on  our  way  again.  At  8  o'clock  we  reached  the  small  village  of  Togiar- 
hazoriamute.  The  mosquitoes  were  here  so  troublesome  that  I  stood  in  the  smoke  of 
the  fire  in  the  hope  of  escaping  them.  After  breakfast  the  sun  broke  through  the 
clouds,  and  a  fair  wind  blowing,  we  started  again  for  a  long  day's  sail  along  the  low 
green  banks  of  the  river.  It  was  delightful  traveling.  Point  after  point  was  reached 
and  left  behind.  The  skin  boats  seemed  to  glide  through  the  water.  As  we  went  on 
the  river  grew  narrower,  so  that  the  opposite  bank  became  distinctly  visible.  Towards 
evening  we  encami)e(l  at-  a  distance  of  about  a  mile  from  the  village  of  Lomaviga- 
mute.  The  ri^  er,  which  had  hitherto  been  a  broad  unbroken  stream,  was  now  divided 
by  numerous  islauds  into  many  channels.  The  shores  also  were  lined  with  a  higher 
growth  of  underwood,  and  thickets  of  small  birch  trees  alternated  with  grassy  or 
mossy  banks.  The  tide  was  also  sluggish.  I'itchiug  our  tents,  we  found  the  ground 
beneath  the  tundra  frozen,  so  that  we  were  unable  to  drive  in  our  pegs.  According, 
to  our  calculation  we  must  have  made  a  run  of  at  least  sixty  miles.  Although  we  both 
felt  cold  and  chilly  during  the  long  day's  sail,  the  Lord  again  graciously  preserved  us 
from  all  ill  effects. 

June  20,  Friday. — We  were  up  at  6  a.  m.  After  a  cup  of  tea  we  started  for  Mum- 
trekhlagamute,  the  station  of  the  Alaska  Commercial  Company  nearest  to  the  mouth 
of  the  river,  and  the  residence  of  the  native  trader,  Nicolai  Komolkoshen.  Again  en- 
tering the  broad  part  of  the  river,  we  sailed  aloug  swiftly  between  its  many  islands 
before  a  fine  breeze.  Away  in  the  distance,  to  the  left,  there  appeared  a  stretch  of 
high  land,  for  which  we  luade.  Before  reaching  it,  we  came  abreast  of  the  village 
of  Napahaiagamute.  Oft'  this  village  we  fell  in  with  a  number  of  Eskimos  in  their 
kayaks,  fishing  for  salmon  "with  gill-nets.*  Leaving  another  village,  that  of  Napas- 
kiagamute,  to  the  right,  and  again  rounding  an  island,  we  at  lengtli  came  in  sight  of 
the  important  station  Mumtrekhlagamute.  We  were  greatly  cheered  by  the  view  of 
this  station,  situated  on  a  high  bank,  with  a  background  of  pine  forest.  The  text 
for  the  day  was  very  encouraging  and  remarkable — "God  said  unto  Jacob,  Arise,  go 
up  to  Bethel,  and  dwell  there,  and  make  there  an  altar  unto  God  that  appeared  unto 
thee."  It  seemed  as  though  the  Lord  were  now  speaking  to  us  in  these  words,  and 
were  thereby  pointing  out  the  place  for  our  future  o^ieratious  amongst  the  Eskimos. 

In  8]>ite  of  our  being  warmly  clad,  we  felt  the  cold,  and  were  glad  to  step  on  shore. 
Our  approach  was  watched  by  a  number  of  people  and  about  ten  dogs,  which  ran  up 
and  down  the  banks  in  a  lively  manner,  giving  us  a  hearty  canine  greeting.  Eskimo 
dogs  howl  and  do  not  bark.  Our  boats  were  soon  safely  moored,  and  on  lauding  we 
were  welcomed  by  Mrs.  Nicolai,  Mrs.  Zipri,  Mrs.  Dormentofif,  and  other  natives.  We 
were  soon  comfortably  housed,  and  invited  to  partake  of  a  well-cooked  meal  and  a 
very  fair  cup  of  coftee,  all  prepared  by  the  Eskimo  ladies.  It  was  very  pleasing  to 
observe  what  an  e&eci  civilizing  influences  had  produced  upon  these  Eskimo  women. 
They  were  simply  but  neatly  dressed  in  European  costume,  presenting  a  clean  and 
tidy  appearance.  They  moved  about  so  quickly  and  deftly,  doing  all  they  could  to 
make  us  comfortable.  We  regretted  our  inability  to  converse  with  them!  The  sta- 
tion consists  of  two  large,  well-built  log  houses,  the  one  serving  as  the  lodging-house, 
the  other  as  the  store,  together  with  a  few  smaller  ones.  There  is  also  a  "kashima," 
or  Russian  bath-house.  The  boats,  being  unladen,  were  hauled  ashore,  turued  over, 
dried  and  oiled,  to  prepare  them  for  the  long  journey  up  the  river.  Mr.  Lind  was 
present  in  the  evening,  when  we  again  besought  the  Lord  to  bless  and  prosper  our 
undertaking.  Nicolai  speaks  Eussian  well,  and  is  anxious  to  learn  English,  of  which 
he  knows  enough  to  say:  "School  here,  me  A  B  C."  AVe  had  very  good  beds  made 
up  for  us  on  the  floor,  and  slept  well. 

June  21,  Saturday. — After  breakfast,  we  carried  on  a  long  parley  with  our  crew, 
through  Mr.  Lind  and  Nicolai.  They  refused  to  go  up  the  river  to  Kolmakovsky,  and 
also  demanded  payment  at  the  rate  of  fifty  cents.  After  a  long  argument,  in  which 
old  Washili  warmly  maintained  his  ground,  Mr.  Lind  told  them  that  if  they  "did  not 

*A8  a  rule,  the  Eskimos  of  Alaska  use  no  hook  and  line,  but  either  a  gill-net  or  a  trap.    The  gill-net 
s  square,  and  constructed  either  of  twine  bought  of  the  trader,  or  of  leather  straps  cut  from  the  tanned 
hide  of  some  animal. 


ESKIMO  FAMILY  ON  THE  KUSKOKWIM  RIVER,  ALASKA 

(Uncivilized). 


HELIOTYPE    PRINTING    CO.     BOSTON 


ESKIMO   FAMILY  ON   KUSKOKWIM    RIVER,  ALASKA. 
(Civilized). 


< 


EDUCATION    IX    ALASKA.  63 

obey  our  orders  to  go  up  the  river  and  were  uot  content  with  twenty-five  cents  a  day, 
tLey  would  get  nothing  at  all.  The  natives  then  accepted  our  terms,  which  were 
more  than  the  usual  pav,  nor  had  we  any  further  troulde  with  tlieni  throughout  the 
rest  of  our  journey.  We  were  most  thaukful  for  the  kind  assistance  of  the  traders, 
for  had  we  been  alone  we  sliould  have  been  most  awkwardly  situated. 

This  long  parley  over,  Nicolai  and  onr  crew  examined  our  liidarkas,  and  rejected 
one  as  unsafe  for  traveling  ]>nr])o.ses.  It  was  left  here  in  the  care  of  old  VVashili  to 
be  covered  with  new  skins,  whilst  we  went  forward  to  Kolmakovsky. 

June  22,  Sunday. — We  feel  the  want  of  Christian  fellowship  more  on  Sunday  than  on 
any  other  day,  for  here  no  distinction  is  made  between  the  Lord's  Day  ;ind  any  other. 

There  appear  to  us  to  be  three  alternatives  in  establishing  a  mission  on  this  river. 
A  missionary  might  be  stationed  either  at  a  trading  post  or  in  a  suitable  locality  at 
a  little  distance  from  a  trading  post;  or,  thirdly,  in  au  Eskimo  village. 

The  first  of  these  methods  appears  to  be  the  most  practicable.  In  commencing 
■work  at  a  trading  post,  we  should  have  the  iunnediate  assistance  of  the  traders,  and 
their  children  would  form  the  nucleus  of  a  school.  A  number  of  Eskimos  visiting 
the  station  for  trading  jiurposes,  and  bringing  their  children  with  them,  would  come 
within  our  reach,  and  might,  by  the  influence  of  the  trader,  he  induced  to  leave  their 
chiklren  under  our  tare.  On  account  of  the  mendicant  and  uncleanly  habits  of  the 
Eskimos  the  traders  purposely  establish  their  stations  at  some  distance  from  their 
villages  and  allow  none  to  settle  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  station.  Were  mis- 
sion work  commeucetl  at  a  station,  the  traders  would  render  our  missionaries  valuable 
assistance  in  the  learning  of  the  language. 

Secondly,  at  a  distance  from  a  traders  ])ost,  we  might  l)e  more  in(le])endent,  but 
not  having  anything  to  ofl:er  for  sale  to  the  natives,  it  is  questionable  whether  the 
latter  would  visit  us,  and  whether  they  could  be  induced  to  leave  their  childremvith 
118.  On  the  other  hand,  Eskimos,  once  converted  and  civilized,  might,  by  the  grace 
of  God,  be  induced  to  make  the  mission  station  their  home,  and  thus  to  form  the  nu- 
cleus of  a  congregation. 

Thirdly,  a  settlement  at  or  near  an  Eskimo  village  would  certainly  be  most  calcu- 
lated to  afiord  opportunities  for  constant  intercourse  with  the  natives — a  matter  of 
great  importance.  The  only  drawback  we  see  to  this  plan  is  the  fact  that  the  native 
villages  are  all  situated  iu  low,  damp  ground,  and  are  thus  exjiosed  to  the  periodical 
inundations  of  the  river. 

Weighing  all  these  considerations,  we  judge  Mumtrekhl^gamute  to  be  certainly  the 
most  favorable  place  we  have  yet  seen  for  the  commencement  of  our  mission. 

June  23,  Monday. — To-day  I  photographed  the  station.  It  is  situated  at  a  bend  of 
the  river  and  on  a  bank,  some  10  or  12  feet  above  high  water.  The  tide  here  rises 
about  4  feet.  The  breadth  of  the  stream  at  this  bend  of  a  right  angle  is  considerable, 
and  to  the  left  of  the  village  an  unbroken  expanse  of  water  stretches  eastward  in  a 
long  vista.  A  small  pine  forest  about  half  a  mile  behind  the  station  extends  a  good 
way  along  the  Kuskokwim.  The  high  land  down  the  river  and  beyond  the  pine  forest 
is  destitute  of  trees  and  shrubs,  covered  with  tundra,  and  intersected  by  swamps  and 
small  lakes,  Avhich  make  a  laud  journey  in  summer  almost  impossible.  The  surround- 
ing country  is  dreary  and  monotonous,  but  can  it  be  more  so  than  the  coast  of  Lab- 
rador, where  our  brethren  commenced  their  labors  of  love  more  than  a  hundred  years 
ago?  If  that  country  was  suitable  for  missionary  enterprise,  surely  this  is  much 
more  so,  as  the  natives  are  hei^  far  more  numerous  than  iu  Labrador. 

We  are  very  desirous  of  proceeding  on  onr  way,  but  are  obliged  to  wait  the  agent's 
time.  How  we  wish  we  could  speak  with  the  natives,  bnt,  alas!  we  have  as  yet  been 
able  only  to  gather  a  few  words  and  phrases.  At  10.30  p.  m.  I  read  the  116th  Psalm 
in  small  print  with  the  aid  of  my  glasses.  I  lay  awake  until  1  a.  m.,  and  even  at  that 
late,  or  rather  early,  hour  the  light  seemed  only  a  little  dimmer  than  before. 

June  25,  Wednesday. — During  the  night  we  heard  the  dogs  making  a  great  uoi.se. 
On  our  inquiring  the  cause,  Mr.  Liud  told  us  that  Tetka,  his  half-blind  interpreter, 
had  been  wrestling  with  another  young  native.  And  what  had  been  the  object  of 
this  struggle  ?  To  obtain  possession  of  the  young  man's  wife  !  It  seems  that  if  a  na- 
tive woman  is  agreeable  to  an  exchange  of  husbands,  the  question  of  her  possession 
is  decided  by  a  wrestling  match  between  the  two  rivals,  and  the  victor  carries  olf  the 
■woman.  The  vanquished  combatant  does  uot  appear  to  entertain  the  slightest  feel- 
ing of  anger  or  resentment  against  his  more  successful  opponent.  This  custom  shows 
bow  little  importance  the  Eskimos  attach  to  the  virtue  of  conjugal  fidelity. 

The  traders,  in  doing  busini'.ss  with  the  Eskimo,  are  obliged  to  allow  them  con- 
siderable credit.  Some  natives  pay  their  debts  tionestly,  whilst  others  do  uot.  The 
traders,  however,  refuse  to  deal  with  those  remiss  iu  this  respect  until  old  debts  are 
paid. 

June  25,  Wednesday. — At  4  p.  m.  we  left  Mumtrekhlagamute  for  Kolmakovsky.  The 
wind  was  at  first  favorable,  bnt  as  the  river  soon  made  a  sharp  turn  it  blew  directly 
in  onr  faces,  and  our  eight  oarsmen  had  to  exert  themselves  considerably.  The  banks 
were  low  and  covered  with  pines,  varying  in  height  from  25  to  40  feet.     The  average 


64  EDUCATION    IN   ALASKA. 

breadth  of  the  main  channel  is  here  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile.  About  9  p.  m.  we 
landed,  and,  pitching  our  tent,  Ibnnd  it  the  best  protection  against  the  troublesome 
mosquitoes. 

June  26,  Thursclaij. — The  wind  favored  our  departure  at  9  a.  m.,  but  as  it  soon  died 
away  we  could  only  creep  slowly  along.  The  weather  was  beautiful,  the  sky  cloud- 
less, the  heat  tempered  by  a  delicious  breeze,  and  our  journey  up  the  stream  would 
altogether  have  been  most  delightful  had  it  not  been  for  the  annoyance  caused  by  the 
mosquitoes.  At  8  p.  m.  we  reached  the  village  of  Kikkhlagaraute,  situated  not  far 
from  the  river,  on  the  banks  of  a  deep  though  narrow  channel.  A  number  of  men 
met  us  on  landing,  saluting  us  with  their  usual  "Tshamai,  tshamai"  (How  do  you 
do?),  and  shaking  hands  \\  ith  us,  thus  giving  us  the  tirst  welcome  of  the  kind  we 
have  received.  We  hire  counted  50  birch-bark  canoes,  which  on  the  upper  part  of 
the  river  take  the  place  of  the  skin  boats.  We  walked  through  the  village,  and  were 
interested  to  observe  the  mementoes  erected  in  memory  of  the  departed.  We  regretted 
that  this  village,  with  its  many  children  and  its  total  ])opulation  of  some  216  inhab- 
itants, was  situated  in  such  low,  marshy  ground.  Had  there  been  any  high  land  in 
the  neighborhood  we  should  have  considered  it  a  favorable  site  for  the  establishment 
of  a  mission  station. 

June27,  Friday. — Leaving  this  place  at  8  a.m.,  we  made  but  slow  progress  during 
the  forenoon,  and  stopped  for  dinner  at  a  small  Eskimo  hshing  station.  Here  we  saw 
Xicolai's  brother,  who  greatly  resembles  him,  and  also  others  of  his  relations.  Pro- 
ceeding on  our  journey,  we  fell  in  with  a  white  man,  Mr.  Langtree,  a  miner,  who  had 
been  up  the  river  on  a  prospecting  tour.  He  was  the  oulj^  white  man  we  saw  on  the 
Kuskokwim,  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Lind,  the  trader.  Akiagamute  was  reached 
at  4  p.  ni.  Nicolai,  having  accompanied  us  thus  far,  now  left  us,  returning  home  in 
a  three-holed  bidarka.  Although  it  was  still  early  in  the  day,  Mr.  Lind  decided  to 
encamp  here.  It  was  a  most  lovely  evening,  the  sun  not  setting  until  a  quarter  past 
9.  The  river  was  as  smooth  as  a  mirror,  not  a  breath  of  air  stirring.  Had  it  not  been 
for  the  annoyance  caused  by  the  mosquitoes,  we  should  thoroughly  have  enjoyed  the 
contemplation  of  the  peaceful  scene  around  ui. 

JiDie  28,  Saturday. — We  were  on  our  way  again  at  6  a.  m.  lulukiak  was  reached 
by  dinner-time,  and  towards  evening  we  arrived  olf  the  village  of  Kivigalogamute, 
situated  at  the  mouth  of  a  river  of  the  same  name,  not  visible  from  our  point.  We 
halted  at  a  place  where  a  half-breed  has  established  himself  and  carries  on  a  fishing 
business.  In  the  es'ening  rain  began  to  fall,  the  first  of  any  consequence  since  we 
left  Unalashka.  I  could  not  but  notice  how  scattered  and  comparatively  small  is  the 
population  inhabiting  the  banks  of  this  large  river.  A  mission  established  at  any  point 
on  the  stream  could  only  reach  a  few  of  the  natives,  but  though  the  tirst  beginnings- 
may  be  small,  the  work  will  probably  grow  and  prosper.  The  labor  will  be  arduous, 
and  the  love  of  Christ  can  alone  constrain  brethren  and  sisters  to  undertake  the  task. 

June  29,  Sunday. — The  day  was  rainy,  though  a  fair  wind  prevailed.  We  dined  at 
Ugavik,  or  Ogavigamute,  Mr  Lind  having  some  business  to  transact  there.  The 
Lord's  Day  was  not  observed  in  any  public  manner.  At  this  village  some  men,  women, 
and  children  came  towards  me,  holding  their  hands  before  them,  laid  one  upon  the 
other,  palms  upward,  and  looking  me  in  the  face,  as  if  expecting  to  receive  some  gift. 
Not  knowing  what  this  act  might  mean  I  put  my  right  hand  upon  theirs,  and  nodding, 
said  "Tshamai."  This  seemed  to  satisfy  them,  for  they  presently  withdrew.  I  learned 
afterwards  from  Mr.  Lind  that  they  are  accustomed  in  this  waj'  to  present  themselves 
to  the  priest  for  his  blessing,  which  consists  in  his  making  the  sign  of  the  cross  upon 
them.  This  showed  us  that  we  were  again  in  a  region  where  the  Greek  Church  has 
influence,  and  proves  also  that  these  people  know  nothing  of  denominational  difter- 
ences  and  creeds. 

On  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river  is  a  long  stretch  of  high  land,  quite  suitable  for 
the  site  of  a  mission  station.  The  village  is  one  of  the  larger  ones.  Not  far  from 
here  a  portage  is  made  to  the  Yukon,  a  distance  of  60  miles.  The  mosquitoes  had 
now  disappeared,  but  wind  and  rain  taking  their  place,  our  journey  became  most 
trying.  We  found  our  seat  on  the  top  of  some  bales  a  very  cold  one,  and  got  rather 
wet  in  spite  of  all  our  precautions.  I  had  to  pray  for  help  to  endure  the  hardships 
and  fatigues  of  the  waj'.     We  camped  for  the  night  at  lookhlagamute. 

June  30,  Monday. — Our  rubber  boots  proved  very  serviceable  in  the  wet  weather 
prevalent  again.  The  wind  was  favorable  throughout  the  whole  of  the  day,  except 
at  those  points  where  the  river  made  a  bend.  The  boats  were  laden  with  goods  al- 
most to  their  utmost  extent,  and,  perched  on  the  top,  we  sat,  or  knelt,  or  squatted, 
leaning  tirst  on  one  side  and  then  on  the  other,  and  now  and  then  standing  up,  in 
order  to  give  our  limbs  as  much  change  as  possible.  Cold  and  shivering,  and  aston- 
ished that  we  were  able  to  bare  exposure  to  such  inclement  weather,  we  continued 
our  journey,  the  Lord  sustaining  us.  For  a  short  distance  it  blew  almost  a  gale,  and 
the  large  square  sail  had  to  be  reefed. 

Lauding  amid  wind  and  rain  at  Kalkhagamute,  we  cooked  and  ate  our  dinner 
among  the  dripping  bushes  in  a  low  scrub  close  to  the  village.  Then  going  with  Mr. 
Lind  into  the  village,  we  entered  the  kashima  and  waimed  ourselves. 


ESKIMO    MOXUMEXTS,   KUSKOKWIM    RIVER. 
From  a  photograph  by  Messrs.  Hartiuann  &  Weinland. 


FRAMES  FOi:   DRYINli   FISH. 
From  a  photograph  by  Messrs.  Hartmaun  &  Weinlaud. 


EDUCATION    IX    ALASKA.  65 

On  our  trip  we  were  greatly  amused  by  one  of  the  natives,  an  oarsman  in  another 
boat.  His  only  garment  was  an  old,  worn-out  «kin  parka;  and  this  being  soaked 
through  and  through,  aiul  Isis  hair  dri])ping  with  v^-t-t,  we  called  him  the  "  waltT-rai  "; 
for  he  looked  more  like  tb.at  than  anytiuugei.se.  lie  is  a  good  .si)ecimen  of  a  weather- 
beaten  Eskimo,  quite  indifferent  to  the  attacks  of  the  mosquitoes  in  warm  weather, 
as  well  as  to  wind  and  rain  in  wet.  All  the  natives  we  met  were  very  friendly,  nor 
did  we  ever  detect  them  in  any  attempt  to  steal;  they  seem  to  be  an  honest  jieofde. 

JaUj  1,  Tutsdai/. — Starting  at  b  a.  m.,  we  reached  Ookhogamnte  after  a  run  of  three 
hours,  and  there  halted  for  dinner.  I  entered  one  of  the  barrabaras,  which  are  built 
like  the  kashima,  but  are  snuiller.  If  these  i)laces  were  kejjt  clean  they  nnght  be 
comfortable  enough  ;  the  inconvt'iiieuce  caused  by  the  smoke  might  be  nl)viated  by 
the  erection  of  an  iron  stove  in  the  center,  with  a  pipe  passing  through  the  roof. 
They  are  certainly  warm  dwellings,  and  with  a  little  trouble  could  l)e  finished  olf  in- 
side and  made  fit  for  the  habitation  of  white  men.  Dormeutolf's  boat  sail  being  old, 
having  suffered  from  the  strong  wind,  was  taken  ashore  and  mended  by  some  of  the 
Eskimo  women.  Whilst  I  stood  watching  their  mode  of  sewing,  a  young  woman  rose, 
came  up  to  me,  aiuI  coumieuced  crossing  herself  at  a  great  rate.  I  stopped  her,  say- 
ing, "  That  will  do,"  when  she  desisted,  and  returned  to  her  occupation.  Onii  uuus- 
ualij-  tall  man  arre.-ted  my  attention,  his  large  hands  presentiug  a  striking  contrast 
to  the  generally  diminutive  size  of  that  member  amongst  the  Eskimos, 

The  weather  cleared  up  somewhat  while  we  staid  here,  but  the  wind  was  decidedly 
cool.  The  fine  weather  did  not  last  long.  Soon  after  we  started  the  sky  again  be- 
came overcast,  the  wind  abated,  and  a  fine  drizzling  rain  set  in.  The  banks  now  be- 
came higher,  and  were  lined  at  the  water's  edge  with  gravel.  On  we  went  in  a  set- 
tled rain.  I  got  out  our  tent  and  coveretl  myself  with  if,  with  my  back  turned  to  the 
storm.  Brother  Weiuland  and  I  sat  side  by  side,  comfortmg  one  another  with  the  re- 
flection that  this  unpleasant  state  of  things  could  not  last  long.  At  8  p.  m.  we  made 
for  the  lower  end  of  an  islaud  where  we  wished  to  encamp  for  the  night.  We  had 
considerable  difficulty  in  accomplishing  our  purpose,  as  our  large  skin-boat  was  so 
heavily  laden.  The  current  is  here  very  sti'ong,  and  our  crew  of  eight  men  were 
either  tired  or  lazy.  Amid  pouring  rain  tents  were  pitched,  a  fire  was  kindled,  and 
supper  cooked  and  eaten.  Our  blankets,  as  well  as  oar  other  wraps,  felt  damp,  but 
the  Lord  preserved  us  from  harm,  and  we  slept  well. 

July  2,  Wednesday. — Though  the  weather  outside  was  tempestuous,  we  passed  a  com- 
fortable night  iuside  our  teut.  Mr.  Lind  calls  his  eight  oarsmen  a  lazy  set  of  men,  aud 
says  that  the  natives  do  not  respect  a  man  unless  they  fear  him.  He  further  stated 
that  it  would  be  out  of  the  question  for  him  to  lore  the  natives.  We  found,  however, 
by  experience,  that  it  is  quite  possible  to  manage  the  Eskimos  without  resorting  to 
severe  and  unkind  measures.  The  wind  rising  at  10  a.  m.,  we  resumed  our  journey 
in  the  raiu.  The  strength  of  the  current  three  times  baffled  our  endeavors  to  round  a 
low  bank  which  stretched  far  out  into  the  river.  This  circumstance  caused  our  helms- 
man to  give  vent  to  his  feelings  in  strong  language,  which  he  afterwards  begged  us 
to  excuse,  stating  that  such  was  not  his  wont.  One  more  long  and  strong  pull  and 
the  hoisting  of  the  sail  just  at  the  proper  moment  crowned  our  efforts  with  success. 
A  favorable  breeze  soon  brought  us  to  a  small  village,  where  we  halted  for  dinner. 
Then  on  again  in  wind  aud  rain  until  11  p.  m.,  when  we  at  last  reached  our  camping 
place  aud  pitched  our  teuts  within  a  day's  journey  of  Kolmakovsky.  The  Lord  be 
praised ! 

July  3,  Thursday. — Mr.  Lind  left  us  with  two  natives  in  our  three-holed  hidarka  at  7 
a.  m.,  and,  as  we  afterwards  learnt,  reached  Kolmakovsky  about  noon.  We  in  our 
large  boat  had  a  long  and  tedious  day's  journey.  The  wind  djing  away  completely, 
some  of  our  men  went  on  shore  and  towed  the  boat  along  for  a  considerable  distance 
by  means  of  a  rope  fastened  to  the  mast.  This  was  hard  work.  Jlr.  Liud's  place  at 
the  helm  was  taken  by  a  native  trader  who  had  joined  us.  This  man's  features  dif- 
fered from  those  of  the  Eskimos,  and  we  w  ere  thus  reminded  of  the  fact  that  we  were 
approaching  the  boundary  line  separating  the  Eskimos  from  the  Ingaliks  of  the  iu- 
terior.  All  day  we  were  passing  along  a  range  of  high,  snow-covered  mountains. 
For  the  greater  part  of  the  way,  however,  these  were  hidden  from  our  view  by  a  lower, 
wooded  range,  skirting  the  bank  of  the  river.  Occasionally  we  enjoyed  a  peep  into 
pine-covered  glens. 

As  we  came  in  sight  of  Kolmakovsky  we  were  very  much  amused  with  Tetka,  Mr. 
Lind's  interpreter,  who  blew  off  a  can  and  a  half  of  powder  with  an  old  musket  to 
give  notice  of  our  approach.  At  last,  after  a  journey  of  nine  days  from  Mumtrekh- 
lagamute,  we  reached  Kolmakovsky  at  9  p.  m.,  aud  right  glad  we  were  to  cuter  Mr. 
Lind's  hospitable  dwelling.  The  li'ord  has  wonderfully  helped  us  thus  far,  and  we 
believe  that  He  will  aid  us  throughout  the  rest  of  our  jouineyings,  and  guide  us  to 
the  attainment  of  our  object,  namely,  the  discovery  of  a  suitable  place  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  mission  amongst  the  Eskimos. 

July  4,  Friday. — Mr.  Lind  having  prepared  a  good  bed  for  us  on  the  floor,  on  a 
large  spring  mattress  (a  special  luxury),  we  had  promised  ourselves  a  good  night's 

7018  AL 5 


^6  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

Test.  Scarcely  had  we  laiu  down,  however,  wheu  fhe  niosqiiltoes  befiau  attacking  us 
in  a  most  persistent  manner.  We  bore  it  for  a  time,  but  at  last  the  buzzing  of  these 
little  creatures  increased  to  such  an  alarming  extent  that  nj)  we  both  started,  almost 
simultaneously,  to  take  vengeance  on  our  persecutors.  A  wljolesale  massacre  com- 
menced, and  coutinuctl  Tiy  the  light  of  a  caudle  Jbr  at  least  an  hour.  At  last,  thiuking 
-we  had  completely  got  rid  of  these  unwelcome  visitors,  we  retiiruedto  our  tine  spring 
mattress.  But,  alas,  our  room  was  soon  again  filled  with  fresh  swarms  of  these  in- 
jects. They  got  the  better  of  us,  aud  kept  me,  at  least,  awake  all  night.  It  is  im- 
possible to  ignore  them.  They  assert  their  i>resence  far  too  demonstratively  to  admit 
of  that. 

Kolmakovsky  consists  of  seven  log-buildings,  built  iu  the  form  of  a  square,  open 
towards  the  river.  That  hexagonal  erection,  the  fort  in  days  gone  by,  is  forty  years 
■old.  The  church,  an  old  building,  with  a  rather  rough  interior,  contaius  a  few  shabby 
oil  paintings  with  candlesticks  in  front  of  them.  The  Greek  jiriest  from  the  Yukon, 
a  half-breed,  comes  hither  every  winter.  On  receiving  notice  of  his  intended  visit,  a 
^lumber  of  natives  assemble  here,  some  of  them  from  a  considerable  distance.  The 
priest  keeps  no  services  ;  his  chief  pastoral  duty  is  to  perforin  the  marriage  ceremony. 
'The  liact  that  this  place  is  under  Greek  Church  influence  militates  against  its  selec- 
tion as  the  site  of  a  mission  station.  A  beginning  might  be  made  here,  however,  bj"^ 
opening  a  school,  for  though  the  ])0]iiilation  is  thin  and  scattered,  there  are  a  num- 
lier  of  children  in  the  place  aud  neighborhood.  Messrs.  Lind  and  Zipri  have  seven, 
and  their  employes  several.  The  former  says  there  are  about  tifty  children  at  Pai- 
mute,  a  village  ten  miles  higher  up  the  river. 

Julji  5,  Saturday. — Here,  as  was  the  case  at  the  lower  station,  we  are  well  enter- 
tained and  cared  for.  The  weather  is  still  very  changeable,  beiug  alternately  bright 
and  rainy.  I  was  engaged  for  the  greater  part  of  the  day  in  developing  the  photo- 
j^raphs  taken  on  our  journey.  Mr.  Lind  made  Brother  Weinland  a  present  of  a  beau- 
tiful ])aika,  or  skin  coat,  and  a  pair  of  boots. 

Juh)  6,' Sunday. — Mr.  Lind  having  paid  off  his  men,  they  had  all  left,  aud  the  place 
«eemed  quiet  iu  consequence.  The  wrather  continued  dull  and  showery.  Wherever 
our  missionaries  may  ultimately  setth',  they  cannot  but  feel  isolated  and  lonely  in  this 
•country.  All  the  white  traders  we  have  met  with  have  adopted  native  women  as 
their  partners.  The  civilized  Eskimo  women  seem  very  decorous  iu  their  manners 
•and  behavior.  Their  children  are  of  prepossessing  appearance,  are  dressed  in  Euro- 
pean fashion,  and  are  trained  in  the  ways  of  their  white  fathers. 

July  7,  Monday. — The  weather  was  wet  all  day,  and  everything  in  our  tent  feels 
damp.  It  is  astonishing  to  us  that  we  do  not  suffer  from  this  trying  weather,  but  the 
Lord  wonderfully  preserves  us  from  all  harm. 

Mr.  Lind  has  the  finest  Eskimo  dogs  we  have  met  with.  I  succeeded  in  photo- 
graphing his  favorite.  One  drawback  attending  these  dogs,  however,  is  the  noise 
they  make  at  night.  One  begins  the  howling,  another  joins  him  iu  a  different  key,  a 
third  and  a  fourth  swell  the  discordant  chorus,  and  each  terrible  outburst  lasts  at 
least  five  minutes,  with  various  crescendos  and  diminuendos.  We  were  frequently 
obliged  to  laugh  at  the  very  absurdity  of  the  uproar,  though  it  invariably  ronsed  us 
from  our  sleep. 

The  next  day  Brother  Weinland  and  I  went  ten  miles  up  the  river  to  see  the  village 
"Napaimute.  We  found  a  few  barrabaras,  all  in  a  dilapidated  condition,  aud  not  many 
anhabitants.  The  jouruey  thither  took  two  hours  and  a  quarter,  but  we  returned 
Tvith  the  stream  iu  fifty-five  minutes. 

July  9,  Wednesday. — Cheered  by  the  promising  appearance  of  the  weather,  we  began 
packing  up  our  things  after  breakfast.  Hitherto  we  had  been  cared  for  by  the  traders, 
but  now  we  were  about  to  be  cast  entirely  upon  our  own  resources.  We  were  obliged 
to  make  our  way  back  to  Nushagak  iu  our  long  skin-boats,  a  distance  of  about  (iOO 
miles.  Equipping  ourselves  with  the  provisions  necessary  for  the  comparatively  short 
journey  to  Mumtrekhlagamute,  we  left  Kolmakovsky  at  2.20  p.  m.,  after  bidding 
good-bye  to  Messrs.  Lind  and  Dormentoff  and  their  wives,  who  had  still  before  them 
a  20  days'  tedious  journey  up  the  river  to  Venizali.  Mr.  Lind  kindly  lent  us  one  of 
ibis  boats,  as  one  of  ours  had  been  left  at  Nicolai's  for  repairs.  He  also  sent  with  us 
ta  young  native  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  as  a  fourth  oarsman,  the  elder  Washili 
liaving  been  left  at  Mumtrekhlagamute  to  superintend  the  repairing  of  oue  of  our 
boats.  The  weather  was  fair,  and  we  traveled  so  rapidly  that  in  five  hours  we  trav- 
ersed a  distance  which  had  been  a  two-days'  journey  in  coming  up  the  stream.  We 
stopped  at  the  spot  which  had  been  our  second  last  halting-place  when  ascending  the 
xiver.  Here  the  natives  lighted  a  fire,  and  presently  our  supper  of  tea,  bread,  and 
fried  salmon  was  ready.  A  little  before  nin&  we  resumed  our  journey,  intending  to 
proceed  all  night  if  possible.  At  midnight  we  found  that  we  had  traveled  as  far  as 
in  three  days  whilst'ascending  the  stream,  and  thought  it  best  to  encamp  for  the  re- 
mainder of  the  night.  Not  having  been  able  to  secure  an  old  tent  for  our  men,  we 
shared  ours  with  the  younger  Washili  and  the  boj-,  leaving  the  other  two  to  find 
ahelter  as  best  thev  might. 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  67 

July  10,  Thursday. —  Contrary  to  our  expectations,  it  rained  diiriug  the  night. 
Whilst  we  were  having  our  breakfast  the  weather  cleared  somewhat,  and  we  again 
started  on  our  way  a  little  after  11.  Whi'e  We  stoppt-d  for  dinner  off  the  village  of 
Ugavik,  a  number  of  natives  came  in  tbeir  bark  canoes  to  see  us,  astonished,  no  doubt, 
by  the  unusual  sight  of  white  men  on  tlie  river.  Here  we  procured  a  large  salmon  iu 
exchange  for  a  small  piece  of  tobacco.  Starting  again  we  had  a  race  with  the  natives, 
which  caused  great  amnsementro  all.  Soon  the  rain  began  again  in  right  good  earn- 
est. The  traveler  sitting  iu  the  bidarka  up  to  his  waist  is  better  able  to  ]>rotect 
himself  against  the  wet  than  when  seated  in  the  open  skin-boats,  provided  he  ia 
furnished  with  a  rain-coal,  such  as  we,  unfortunately,  had  not.  Our  heavy  rubber 
coats,  made  to  open  in  front,  were  not  sufticient  to  protect  us  from  the  »vet.  I  may 
here  give  my  readers  a  description  of  the  native  rain-coat,  such  as  we  procured  at  a 
later  stage  of  our  jonruey.  It  is  made  of  the  intestines  of  the  seal  or  walrns,  so 
closely  .sown  together  by  native  womiMi  as  to  be  waterproof.  The  shape  is  that  of  a 
wide  shirt,  opening  at  the  top  into  a  hood,  fitting  closely  round  the  head.  The  coat 
is  tied  round  the  outside  circular  rim  of  the  hole  in  which  the  traveler  is  seated,  and 
in  this  way  the  rain  is  prevented  from  entering  the  boat.  The  garment  is  made  so 
large  and  roomy  that  its  wearer  can  pull  in  his  arms  and  waim  his  hands  in  his  coat 
pockets.  As  we  did  not  yet  enjoy  this  protection,  we  were  obliged  to  fortify  our- 
selves against  the  wet  by  means  of  our  rubber  coats  and  blankets. 

The  lad  who  had  accompanied  us  from  Kolmakovsky,  having  nothing  on  but  au 
old  dilapidated  skin  parka,  got  thoroughly  wet.  The  poor  fellow  was  naturally  very 
talkative,  and  had  hitherto  kept  up  a  constant  chatter  with  the  others,  but  now  re- 
lapsed into  silence.     He  shivered  all  over  and  seemed  no  longer  able  to  paddle. 

Having  passed  onr  fifth  camping  place  of  the  upward  voyage,  our  men  redoubled 
their  exertions,  and  we  soon  reached  a  small  fishing  station  occupied  by  only  two 
Eskimo  families.  Here  we  halted  for  the  night.  The  natives  were  very  friendly  and 
obliging.  As  this  place  is  situated  near  one  of  the  pine  forests  here  and  there  skirt- 
ing the  river,  the  mosquitoes  were  very  troublesome.  We  are  gradually  getting  into 
the  way  of  cooking  our  own  meals,  and  being  in  good  health,  are  able  thankfully  to 
enjoy  whatever  the  Lord  gives  us.     To-day  we  traveled  about  sixty  miles. 

July  11,  Friday. — We  .set  off  again  at  8.30  a.  m.,  the  weather  being  fine,  though  the 
sky  was  clouded.  Traveling  is  pleasant  enough  as  long  as  the  rain  keeps  off,  and  the 
wind  drives  away  the  mosquitoes. 

After  dinner  an  aged  native,  evidently  suffering  from  some  complaint,  tried  to  ex- 
plain t-o  us  the  nature  of  hia  disease,  but  in  vain.  A  few  pills  seemed  to  satisfy  him. 
Poor  fellow!  how  we  wished  w^e  could  help  him.  The  missionaries  who  may  be  ap- 
pointed to  the  work  in  Alaska  ought  to  have  some  medical  knowledge.  At  7.30  p.  m. 
we  stopped  to  take  supper  not  far  from  the  place  where  we  had  passed  the  first  night 
after  leaving  Mumtrekhlagamute  on  our  way  up  the  river.  During  the  afternoon's 
voyage  the  water,  lashed  by  the  wind  into  considerable  waves,  occasionally  washed 
over  the  forepart  of  our  boats,  wetting  the  man  in  the  front  hole. 

At  8.15  p.  m.  we  se+  out  once  more,  with  the  intention  of  reaching  Nicolai's  station 
that  night  if  possible.  Our  oarsmen  making  every  exertion,  we  arrived  at  Mum- 
trekhlagamute about  10  p.  m.  We  thus  completed  the  first  stage  of  onr  homeward 
journey,  having  traversed  a  distance  of  about  240  miles  in  two  and  a  half  days.  Every 
one  at  the  station  .seemed  to  have  retired  to  rest,  but  presently  all  were  astir,  and  our 
boats  were  soon  hauled  on  shoi-e  and  unloaded.  After  partaking  of  a  cup  of  tea  and 
some  bread  and  butter,  prepared  for  us  by  Mrs.  Nicolai,  we  retired  to  our  tent,  thank- 
ful to  the  Lord  for  having  preserved  us  thus  far  on  our  way  down  the  river. 

July  12,  iSalurday. — During  the  night  the  wind  was  high,  shaking  our  tent  consider- 
ably, though  not  disturbing  us. 

We  learnt  from  Nicolai  that  his  trading  journeys  extend  to  the  low  country  lying 
along  the  coast  between  the  Kuskokwim  and  the  Yukon,  and  even  to  the  island  of 
Nunivak.  Missionaries  settled  here  would  be  able  to  travel  about  in  company  with 
Nicolai  and  have  the  benefit  of  his  assistance.  We  learnt  to  like  him  and  his  wife, 
they  were  so  quiet,  pleasant,  and  obliging.  Nicolai  is  very  anxions  to  learn  English, 
of  which  language  he  has  some  slight  knowledge.  He  would  soon  attain  a  certain 
degree  of  proficiency,  and  would  then  make  an  excellent  interjireter  for  the  mission- 
aries on  such  journeys.  He  hopes  and  expects  that  the  missionaries  will  settle  at  his 
station. 

July  13,  Sunday. — About  mid-day,  the  weather  promising  to  clear  up,  old  Washili 
insisted  upon  starting.  We  told  him  that  we  should  continue  our  journey  on  the 
morrow,  but  were  not  ready  to  do  so  to-day.  Nicolai  very  promptly  settled  him  by 
telling  him  to  go  alone  if  he  was  in  such  a  hurry  to  be  off;  the  other  three  did  not 
manifest  the  same  impatience. 

July  14,  Monday. — I  bought  from  Nicolai  an  old  tent  for  the  use  of  our  men,  and  a 
skin  parka,  which  his  sister  enlarged  and  made  comfortable  for  me.  We  sold  him  our 
rifle,  as  we  had  not  found  any  use  for  it. 

Our  equipment  for  our  three  weeks'  journey  to  Nushagak  involved  quite  a  formidable 


68  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

list  of  articles.  Our  supplies  iucliuled  :  tea,  5  pounds;  sugar,  30  poumls;  salt,  1  packet ;  i 
groinid  coft'ec,  2  tius ;  butter,  1  tin;  pepper,  1  tin;  coudensed  milk,  G  tins;  canned  ' 
fruits,  1  dozen  tins;  pilot  Iread,  1  Ixwc.  Furllier,  we  Lad  with  us  a  sbot-gun,  with  j 
aiuunmitioD,  a  teut,  tbernmnjeter,  luirometer,  telescope,  compass,  saw,  hatchet,  ax^  ! 
spade,  matches,  caudles,  two  satchels  containing  a  change  of  underclothing,  our  bed-  ' 
ding,  the  pbotograpbiug  apparatus,  and,  for  i)uri>oses  of  barter  with  the  natives,  two 
pieces  of  printed  calico,  together  with  an  assortment  of  knives,  pipes,  beads,  and 
forty- four  pounds  of  tobacco. 

How  such  a  quantity  of  things  were  to  be  packed  into  or  onto  our  two  bidarkas  it 
was  hard  to  say.  But  it  was  accomplished.  These  last  are  27  feet  long,  about  22- 
inches  wide,  and  a  foot  deep  at  the  center  hole,  tapering  fore  and  aft  to  a  point.  The 
boats  were  covered  with  skins  of  the  se.a  lion,  and  furr  ished  with  holes  lor  three  oc- 
cupants. Alter  ))acking  all  our  things  into  bundles  sufiicieiitly  snuiU.  wo  ]>ut  them 
through  these  holes  and  pushed  them  into  the  corners  with  a  stick.  We  had  to  be 
caiefui  to  leave  room  for  our  legs,  as  we  were  obliged  to  sit  with  them  stretched  out,  • 
being  unable  to  assume  the  crouching  posture  of  the  natives.  Our  teut  poles,  frying 
pans,  and  other  articles  of  inconvenient  shape  were  fastened  by  straps  to  the  top  of 
the  boats. 

Thus  equipped  and  ready  for  our  long  return  journey  to  Nnshagak,  we  bade  farewell 
to  Nicolai  and  his  family.  At  8  a.  m.  our  boats  were  launched,  autl  we  took  our  st-ats^ 
each  in  the  i;euter  hole  of  his  respective  bidarka.  Our  bedding,  being  folded  up, 
served  as  a  cushion.  The  text  for  the  day  was  :  "  There  failed  not  aught  of  auy  good 
thing  which  the  Lord  had  spoken  unto  the  house  of  Israel ;  all  came  to  pass."  (Josh. 
xxi,  45.)  We  looked  back  on  the  past  with  thankfulness,  and  forward  to  the  future 
with  confidence  aud  courage. 

He  who  has  helped  us  hitherto 
Will  help  us  iiU  our  joiuuey  through. 

Six  miles  from  Mumtrekhlagamute  lies  Napaskiachamule,  on  the  left  bank  of  the- 
river.  It  would  appear  to  be  a  large  village,  and  to  be  sufficiently  near  the  trading 
post  to  be  readily  accessible  to  uiissiouaries  stationed  there.  A  two  hours'  voyage 
thence  brought  us  in  sight  of  Napahaiagamute,  lying  not  far  from  the  high  laud 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  stream.  Towards  noou  we  reached  Lomavigamute,  where 
we  procured  some  tish  in  exchange  for  a  little  tobacco,  and  enjoyed  a  good  dinner. 
The  wind  by  this  time  had  abated,  and  the  water  was  as  smooth  as  glass.  Traveling 
under  such  circumstances  was  most  pleasant.  Far  awavon  the  southwestern  horizon 
blue  sky  appeared,  an  iudication  of  coming  fine  weather.  All  felt  cheered  aud  hope- 
ful. The  ebb  tide  favoring  our  course,  towards  evening  we  pitched  our  tents  for  the 
night  at  the  village  of  Naghaikhlavigamute.  Our  boats  with  their  cargoes  were  car- 
ried up  the  bank  and  placed  on  the  grass  near  our  tents.  This  was  our  usual  mode 
of  procedure  when  camping  for  the  night. 

July  15,  Tuesday. — We  started  at  8  a.  m.,  with  the  ebb  of  the  tide,  and  hoped  to 
make  good  progress  during  the  day,  the  weather  being  fine ;  but  our  men  took  it  into 
their  heads  to  work  across  the  river,  the  oj^posite  bank  of  which  was  just  visible. 
About  noon,  therefore,  we  lauded  at  a  village  on  the  other  side,  called  Chlugachamute. 
Here  our  crews  gave  us  to  understand  that  they  would  not  be  able  to  proceed  until 
the  tide  was  again  up,  and  we  were  obliged  to  wait  there  for  three  weary  hours.  We 
examined  the  village,  and  found  it  to  be  one  of  the  dirtiest  we  had  seen.  It  is  situ- 
ated on  a  very  small  and  very  muddy  creek,  left  dry  at  low  tide.  Kotten  fish  lay  all 
around,  offensive  both  to  sight  and  smell. 

The  staple  food  of  the  Eskimos  consists  of  fish  found  in  such  abundance  that  the 
people  are  inexcusably  wasteful  in  their  use  of  them.  The  natives  eat  them  either 
raw  or  dried,  or  in  the  first  stage  of  putrefaction.  To  produce  this  they  dig  a  hole  in 
the  ground,  into  which  they  place  grass  or  matting;  they  then  fill  the  cavity  with 
fish,  covering  it  over  with  grass  and  earth.  The  heads  and  roes  of  salmon  are  sub- 
jected to  the  same  treatment.  The  latter,  from  being  a  beautiful  pink  hue,  become 
white  and  slimy.  I  was  able  to  eat  the  dried  fish,  but,  unless  in  a  famished  condition, 
could  not  bring  myself  to  touch  what  was  partly  decomposed. 

At  last  we  continued  our  journey.  When  in  the  middle  of  the  stream  we  only  just 
succeeded  in  passing  over  a  mudbank.  Then  we  understood  why  our  crews  had 
waited  for  the  tide. 

Having  been  without  food  since  morning,  aud  the  sun's  rays  being  hot  and  untem- 
pered  by  auy  refreshing  breeze,  I  became  very  drowsy  and  fell  asleep.  Presently  I  was 
awakened  by  the  voice  of  Brother  Weinland,  as  he  endeavored  to  induce  our  crews  to 
proceed  on  their  way.  Our  boats  were  lying  alongside  one  another,  and  some  of  the 
young  men  had  gone  to  sleep.  At  last  Brother  Weiuland  succeeded  in  persuading 
them  to  move  on.  Reaching  Apokachamute  early  in  the  evening,  we  were  obliged  to 
encamp  here  for  the  night,  as  our  men  were  unwilling  to  proceed  any  farther.  A 
number  of  natives  assisted  in  hauling  our  boats  up  the  steep  banks.  We  were  both 
very  hungry,  and  ate  with  great  relish  our  supper  of  fried  salmon,  bread  aud  butter^ 


'Q:--j^^M^^^ 


BIDARKA   traveling;    READY   TO    START. 
From  a  photograph  by  Messrs.  Hartiurtun  it  AYeinliind. 


ESKIMO   VILLAGE,  KIYACK,  DOG-SLKI>,  ETC. 
From  a  pbotograph  by  Messrs.  Harlmann  &  'Weinlaud. 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA,  69 

and  cauned  peaches.  WliiLst  prepaiiiis  supper,  we  observed  a  funeral  i)rocession 
makinfj  its  way  towards  tlie  place  of  burial.  Some  men  carrying;  a  rude  coffin  lieailed 
the  humble  cortege,  then  came  others  bearing  the  dead  body  wrai)ped  in  fiir.  The 
remains  of  the  departed  were  followed  by  the  bereaved  widow  and  children,  and  by 
other  persons  carrying  the  personal  pro]»erty  of  the  dci>arfed.  After  the  body  had 
been  placed  in  the  coffin,  the  latter  was  rais(Mi  uf)on  logs  so  as  to  be  out  of  the  reach 
of  animals,  and  surrounded  by  all  the  belongings  of  the  deceased.  Oh,  how  we  longed 
to  tell  these  poor  people  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  who  is  the  Resurrection  and  the  Life. 
May  they  soon  learn  to  know  Him ! 

A  number  of  men  and  women  gathered,  as  usual,  at  the  door  of  our  tent,  to  see  the 
■white  men  eat.  We  tried  to  talk  with  them,  and  managed  to  make  one  old  woman 
understand  that  bhe  ought  to  wash  herstdf.  She  said  she  had  no  soap;  nevertheless, 
wishing  to  ]dease  us,  she  pulleil  uj)  some  of  the  we,t  tundra,  or  moss,  and  cleaned  her 
dirty  face  before  us.  Soon  a  marked  improvement  was  eifected  in  her  api)eaiaucc. 
A  young  girl  who  stood  by,  vi-ith  tine  rosy  cheeks,  dark,  well-set  eyes,  would  have 
been  <leci(ledly  handsome  liad  she  only  been  a  little  less  regardless  of  her  personal 
appearance.  Who  will  liel])  to  buy  soap  and  combs  for  the  Eskimos  of  Alaska,  as 
well  as  to  supply  them  with  schools  and  teachers,  and  the  pure  Gospel  in  their  own 
tongue?  The  Eskimos  are  waiting  to  receive  these  gifts,  aud  are  willing  to  make 
the  best  possible  use  of  them.  "The  fields  are  white  to  the  harvest;  pray  ye,  there- 
fore, the  Lord  of  the  harvest  that  He  will  send  forth  laborers  into  His  harvest."  And 
give  |)ractical  proof  of  your  earnestness  by  aiding  with  your  substance,  in  order  that 
the  work  may  be  speedily  commenced. 

Jnh/  l(i,  Jfediicuday. — Leaving  Apokachaniute  early,  at  1  p.  ni.,  we  reached  the  ware- 
house, where  we  had  to  wait  so  long  before  traveling  up  the  river.  After  dinner  and 
a  rest,  we  again  started  for  the  village  of  Quiuchaohamute,  near  which  the  Dora  had 
anchored  on  our  arrival  in  the  estuary  of  the  Kuskokwim  River.  Here  our  jtatience 
was  now  ))ut  to  a  severe  tt^st.  The  rapidly  receding  tide  laid  bare  immense  nuid 
hanks,  stretching  for  miles  down  the  broad  mouth  of  the  river.  /As  each  of  these  had 
to  be  carefully  rounded,  our  progress  was  very  slow.  The  wind  being  contrary,  our 
men  kept  as  close  as  possible  to  the  banks  and  pushed  the  boats  along  by  means  of 
poles.  It  was  tedious  work.  Night  closed  in  and  the  rain  began  to  fall.  At  last, 
about  10  p.  m.,  we  struck  on  a  large  bank  at  some  distance  from  the  shore,  and  cov- 
■ered  by  only  a  few  inches  of  water.  We  just  managed  to  place  oar  backs  to  the  wind 
and  rain,  waiting  anxiously  for  the  turu  of  the  tide.  In  about  an  hour's  time  we 
were  afloat  again,  and  the  boats  were  pushed  on  until  they  once  more  stuck  fast  iu  a 
shallow  place.  We  found  it  difficult  to  be  cheerful  under  these  circumstances,  as  our 
rain-coats  were  not  weather-proof,  and  we  were  getting  a  complt^te  wetting.  Our 
four  natives  were  in  excellent  humor  all  the  time,  joking  and  laughiuu,  aud  calling 
our  mud  bank  "  marayah-gamute"  (^mud  village).  Feeliug  very  chilly,  we  helped 
them  to  i)ush  forward  the  boats  as  soon  as  the  rising  tide  once  more  liberated  us. 
Where  the  bottom  of  the  river  permitted  it,  they  occasionally  got  out  and  dragged 
the  bidarkas  through  the  shallows  into  deeper  water.  Our  varied  efforts  to  progress 
continued  for  a  long  time,  until  at  leugth  the  distant  howling  of  dogs  announced 
the  vicinity  of  a  village.  We  reached  the  jdace  at  2  in  the  morning.  Amid  wind 
and  lain  we  hauled  our  boats  ashore,  pitched  our  tents,  made  a  fire,  and  had  some- 
thing to  eat.  Then  we  retired  to  rest,  and  right  glad  were  we  to  do  so,  after  so  many 
hours  of  exposure  and  the  cramped  ])osture  of  sitting  in  a  bidarka.  But  we  did  not 
forget,  first  of  all,  to  return  thanks  to  the  Lord,  who  had  preserved  ns  from  no  small 
peril.  Had  the  weather  been  more  stormy,  our  frail  canoes  would  have  been  shat- 
tered, in  which  case  we  should  never  have  succeeded  in  reaching  the  shore  over  the 
enormous  expanse  of  mud. 

Juh/  17,  Thitysdai/.—We  rose  refreshed  at  9.30  a.  m.  After  breakfast  natives  came, 
bringing  articles  for  sale,  some  of  which  we  bought  in  exchange  for  matches,  tobacco, 
and  other  commodities.  A.t  2  ]i.  m.  we  wished  to  start,  but  our  meu  were  not  willing 
to  do  so,  because  the  wind  was  blowing.  Thev  reiterated  the  words  "Ashietuk,  ash- 
ietuk!" (bad.bad !) 

Our  trading  with  the  natives  evidently  caused  them  to  entertain  a  good  opinion  of 
us.  One  man  accosted  me  with  the  words,  "  Ilchj)it  ashechtuten"  (you  are  good).  It 
•would  certainly  not  require  a  great  eifort,  to  gain  the  gooil-will  and  confidence  of  this 
inoffensive  and  good-natured  people.  We  found  them  also  to  be  strictly  honest.  No 
attempt  was  made  by  any  to  steal  anything  from  us.  Had  they  been  a  greedy  and 
savage  race,  it  would  have  been  an  easy  matter  for  them  to  kill  and  rob  us  with  im- 
punity. We  felt,  however,  quite  safe  amongst  them,  and  never  suspected  them  of  evil 
designs.  The  Eskimos  of  the  Kuskokwim  River  know  nothing  as  yet  of  intoxicating 
liquors,  and  as  long  as  the  Alaska  Cduiui  -rcial  Company  niaiut  ains  its  supremacy  in 
these  waters  we  have  a  guarautee  that  they  will  not  be  introduced  amongst  them. 
Should  spirituous  li(iuors  once  be  imported  into  the  country  the  destruction  of  the 
Eskimos  would  speedily  follow,  and  a  serious  hindrance  would  be  opposed  to  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel. 


70  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

July  18,  Friday. — Another  trying  and  protracted  day's  journey.  We  •were  called  at 
5  a.  ni.  The  tide  was  np,  and  our  men  were  anxious  to  get  over  the  immense  mud 
banks  in  the  river  and  reach  Good  News  Bay,  oi',  as  the  natives  call  it,  "  Imachbil 
tshoach"  (little  sea).  After  rowing,  or  rather  paddling,  for  six  hours,  we  halted  for 
dinner.  Here  the  mountains  skirt  the  coast  all  the  way  to  Cape  Neweuham.  At  2.30 
p.  m.  we  jiroceeded,  and  kept  on  our  way  for  eleven  long  hours,  skirting  the  beach  al- 
the  way,  though  not  so  near  as  to  be  in  danger  of  breakerN  washing  our  boats  ashore. 
We  greatly  admired  the  endurance  and  perseverance  of  our  Eskimo.';.  Hour  after 
hour  they  paddled  on  indefatigably,  determined  to  reach  the  bay  and  get  into  safe 
waters  whilst  the  gentle  breeze  lasted.  Had  the  wind  and  waves  increased  we  should 
have  had  to  land,  and  knew  not  what  length  <)f  time  we  might  have  been  oVjliged  to 
stay  on  this  bleak,  unfriendly  shore.  Presently  I  grew  very  tired,  my  back  was  sore 
from  leaning  so  long  against  the  rim  of  the  hole  in  which  I  was  seated,  and  my  leg."* 
were  stift'with  being  stretched  out  in  the  boat  at  a  right  angle  to  my  body.  Toward 
night  1  felt  sleepy,  but  the  noise  of  the  breakers  kept  me  awake.  The  sea  rose  and 
washed  over  the  fore  parts  of  our  bidarkas,  but  we  kept  the  water  out  by  putting  On 
our  long  rain-coats  and  lashing  the  lower  parts  of  these  garments  round  the  rims  of 
the  holes  of  the  canoes.  1  prayed  that  the  men  might  have  strength  to  hold  out ;  nor 
did  they  show  any  signs  of  giving  in.  Midnight  passed  and  we  were  still  paddling 
along  the  coast.  At  last,  about  an  hour  later,  we  leached  the  narrow  entrance  to 
Good  News  Bay,  and  safely  pa.ssed  the  surf  caused  by  the  inflowing  lide.  It  was  so 
dark  that  we  could  scarcely  see  the  mountains  or  the  shores  of  the  bay.  After  an- 
other hour's  paddling  a  cone-shaped  mountain  ahead  of  us  became  just  visible  in  the 
dim  twilight,  and,  to  our  great  joy,  our  men  pulled  for  shore.  With  some  difHculty 
we  managed  to  kindle  a  fire,  and,  after  a  cup  of  tea,  we  gratefully  lay  down  in  our 
tent,  and  were  soon  fast  asleep,  though  the  night  was  now  wet  and  stormy,  and  our 
tent  was  considerably  shaken  by  the  wind. 

July  19,  Saturday. — We  slept  till  11  a.  m.,  and  felt  refreshed.  The  storm,  which  in- 
creased in  violence  toward  evening,  prevented  us  from  continuing  our  journey.  Our 
men  hauled  the  two  bikardas  higher  up  the  bank  out  of  reach  of  the  high  spring  tide. 
It  was  indeed  providential  that  this  gale  had  not  ari.sen  the  day  before,  for  had  such 
been  the  case  I  do  not  know  what  we  should  have  done  along  that  stretch  of  solitary 
coast.  We  came  to  the  conclusion  that  Good  News  Bay  would  not  be  a  suitable  place 
for  the  establishment  of  a  mission  station,  as  there  is  but  one  village  in  the  bay  and 
an  utter  absence  of  timber. 

July  "20,  Sunday. — Our  Sunday  in  our  lonely  tent  on  the  beach  was  rather  long  and 
weary.  As  we  had  no  fresh  meat  either  for  ourselves  or  our  crew,  we  endeavored  to 
procure  some,  and  Brother  Weinland  succeeded  in  shooting  a  few  sea-gulls.  The  broth 
was  excellent,  but  the  meat  did  not  become  tender  after  hours  of  stewing  and  boiling. 

July  21,  Monday. — The  wind  somewhat  abating,  we  hurriedly  packed  up  our  goods, 
launched  our  boats,  and  put  on  our  rubber  kamlikas,  or  coats.  These,  however,  were 
a  failure,  as  they  did  not  keep  out  the  damp.  Kain  coming  on  again,  and  the  water 
washing  over  the  boat,  we  soon  got  wet  and  cold.  A  ten  miles'  voyage  l)rought  us  to 
Mumtrachagamute,  the  only  village  in  the  bay,  containing,  according  to  Petrofif,  about 
150  inhabitants.  Whilst  we  were  unpacking  and  pitching  our  tent,  almost  the  whole 
village  turned  out  to  see  us.  The  natives  watched  our  every  movement,  but  were 
very  quiet  and  well-behaved.  They  appear  to  be  a  mixed  race,  many  being  nearly 
white.  Here  we  provided  ourselves  with  fresh  fish,  the  most  delicious  salmon-trout. 
Whenever  the  sun  shone  we  tried  to  dry  some  of  our  wet  clothes.  We  were  again 
filled  with  astonishment  and  gratitude  that  we  were  not  laid  up  after  exposure  to  such 
wet  and  cold. 

July  22,  Tuesday. — It  was  well  that  last  night,  before  lying  down,  we  tightened  the 
fastenings  of  our  tents,  for  a  strong  gale  springing  up  from  the  east  shook  them  ter- 
ribly, whilst  the  r«in  poured  down  in  torrents.  Soffe  of  the  tent-pegs  were  loo.sened 
by  the  storm,  and  I  had  to  go  out  in  the  rain  to  secure  them.  I  could  not  sleep  for 
the  cold  until  I  put  on  my  skin  parka. 

We  are  obliged  to  follow  the  good,  if  laconic,  advice  given  to  us  by  Nicolai,  when 
we  were  leaving  Mumtrekhlagamute.  "  No  go — eat,  sleep.  Go — no  eat.  No  eat — 
no  go."  By  this  he  meant,  "  If  you  cannot  continue  your  journey,  eat  and  rest ;  when 
you  can  travel,  i.  e.,  when  the  weather  is  fine,  don't  spend  mu«h  time  in  cooking. 
Lastly,  if  you  don't  eat  when  you  have  a  chance,  yon  won't  be  able  to  travel." 

An  elderly  native  entered  our  tent  towards  evening,  squatted  down,  and  began  vio- 
lently crossing  himself  before  us,  meaning,  I  suppo.se,  to  show  his  piety.  We  stopped 
this  proceeding  on  his  part,  and  only  regretted  our  inability  to  converse  with  him. 
Rain,  rain  all  day.  with  but  little  intermission. 

July  23,  Wednenday. — About  7  o'clock  this  morning  we  were  awakened  by  some  of 
the  natives,  and  found  the  water  beginning  to  wfi.sh  into  our  tent,  although  this  had 
been  pitched  above  high-water  mark.  Up  we  started,  removed  our  goods  to  a  still 
higher  position,  and  protected  them  with  our  rubber  blankets  against  the  rain.  We 
also  quickly  took  down  our  tent.     After  some  deliberation,  we  decided  to  proceed  on 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  71 

our  journey  at  ouce.  Our  crew  were  nuwilliug  to  start,  but  we  obliged  tbein  to  clo> 
80.  lu  a  drizzling  rain  we  put  our  tbings  into  tbe  boats  and  lanucbed  them.  The 
wind  being  favorable,  we  soon  entered  tbe  niontb  of  tbe  river  we  bad  now  to  f  sceud. 

Some  reader  may  ask,  "  Wby  not  sail  along  tbe  coast  to  Togiak  ?"  Sncb  a  voyage 
round  Cape  Newenbam,  stretcbing  far  out  into  tbe  open  sea,  would  bave  been  much 
too  perilous  in  tbese  frail  skin  boats  of  ours.  We  liad  already  bad  sufficient  expe- 
rience witb  one  day's  voyage  in  bidarkas  along  an  open  sborc  to  recognize  tbe  de- 
sirability of  reaching  Togiak  Bay  by  going  up  this  river  and  carrying  our  boats  and 
baggage  over  the  watershed  to  another  delivering  its  waters  into  the  sea  on  the  farther 
sideof  the  cape.  The  small,  windnig  stream  up  wbich  we  therefore  turned  is  beautifully 
clear  and  the  current  very  rapid.  Traveling  on  this  river  is  very  different  to  jour- 
neying on  the  Kuakokwim,  as  the  boats  have  to  be  ])usbed  tbrougb  tbe  shallows  Ijy 
means  of  poles,  which  are  quickly  exchanged  for  paddles  when  dee)i  water  is  reached.. 

Tbe  suddenness  of  our  departure  had  obliged  us  to  go  without  our  breakfast,  but. 
although  we  felt  both  cold  and  hungry  we  pushed  on  till  noon,  when  we  halted  and 
took  refreshments.  Resuming  our  journey  for  some  hours,  we  camped  for  tbe  night: 
close  by  the  beautifully  clear  stream.  A  native  of  Mumtrfichagamute  accompanied 
us  in  his  kayak  to  give  assistance  at  the  portage. 

July  24,  Thurhday. — Drizzling  rain  fell  all  the  morning,  and  we  made  but  little- 
progress  before  dinner.  When  tbe  rain  ceased,  we  exchanged  our  rubber  coats  for 
our  furs,  and  felt  tbe  comfort  of  them.  We  soon  entered  a  large  plain,  tbrougb  which 
the  river  wound,  at  first  deep  and  narrow.  Presently,  however,  it  became  more  like  a 
deep  rut  than  anything  else,  and  it  would  have  been  imposf^ible  to  travel  up  the 
stream  in  any  kind  of  boat  but  a  bidarka.  Tbe  rivulet  gradually  decreased  in  width 
till  there  'was  scarcely  room  for  the  boat,  wbich  it  must  be  remembered  is  only  2: 
feet  wide.  It  also  became  shallow,  and  there  were  occasionally  such  abrupt  turns^ 
that  the  boat,  27  feet  in  leugtb,  could  with  difhculty  be  got  through.  All  getting  out,, 
the  natives  pulled  the  boats  over  the  shallows.  It  is  astonishing  what  rough  nsage^ 
these  skin  boats  can  stand!  Brother  Weinland  and  myself  walked  for  about  half  a  mile 
on  the  soft  mossy  ground  by  the  side  of  tbe  river.  In  many  parts  this  was  so  swampy 
that  our  long  rubber  boots  stood  us  in  good  stead.  Nothing  but  the  occasional  ap- 
pearance of  tbe  men's  heads  above  the  high  grass  lining  the  water's  edge  served  to. 
indicate  tbe  vicinity  of  a  water-course.  We  were  tired  out,  and  glad  to  spend  the 
night  at  the  point  where  the  portage  was  to  be  commenced.  This  was  indicated  by 
a  few  sticks  placed  in  the  ground,  most  likely  by  Mr.  Langtree,  the  miner,  who  had 
passed  this  way  a  short  time  before  us.  Tbe  weather  had  cleared  up,  and  a  heavy- 
dew  at  evening  promised  us  fine  weather  for  the  morrow.  The  mountains  in  tin* 
part  are  not  rocky,  but  rounded  off,  and  covered,  like  tbe  plain,  with  tundra,  or  moss.. 
They  are  totally  devoid  of  timber,  though  here  and  there  their  sides  are  studded  with 
patches  of  low  green  bushes.  We  are  both  in  good  health,  and  bear  the  fatigues  of 
the  journey  well. 

July  25,  Friday. — Got  up  at  5  a.  m.,  made  the  tire,  and  roused  tbe  men.  Tbe  morn- 
ing was  foggy,  and  the  wind  being  W.N.W.,  gave  us  hopes  of  a  tine  day.  Nor  were 
we  disappointed.  After  breakfast,  we  commenced  tbe  portage.  Whilst  the  men  were 
engaged  in  transporting  our  boats  across  tbe  "divide,"  as  tbe  intervening  space  of" 
ground  is  technically  called,  we  busied  ourselves  in  packing  up  our  goods  in  bundles 
of  convenient  size  for  the  men  to  carry.  By  tbe  time  they  returned  we  bad  our  bun- 
dles ready  for  them.  Lashing  these  on  their  backs  by  means  of  ropes,  they  set  off' 
once  more,  and  this  time  we  followed  them,  carrying  our  satchels  in  our  hands.  The 
small  caravan  resembled  a  company  of  peddlers.  We  found  it  difficult  to  walk  through 
the  swamps  and  tundra,  without  any  burdens,  and  were  astonished  at  the  heavy 
weights  the  natives  could  carry.  We  greatly  admired  tbe  cbeerfuliu^ss  and  willing- 
ness they  displayed  in  the  performance  of  their  duties.  Presently  the  fog  cleared 
away  and  the  sun  shone  out.  Tbe  mosquitoes  now  reappeared  upon  tbe  scene,  and,, 
to  make  up  for  lost  time,  assailed  us  most  vigorously.  At  Lake  No.  1  our  thing*, 
were  put  loosely  in  and  on  the  boats,  which  two  men  then  paddled  across  tbe  water, 
whilst  the  rest  rounded  the  lake  on  foot.  Arrived  at  tbe  farther  shore,  the  bidarkas 
and  tbe  bundles  were  again  carried  over  the  intervening  country  to  Lake  No.  2,  and  iu. 
this  way  we  continued  our  journey,  until  we  stopped  fur  dinner  at  Lake  No.  4.  These 
lakes  are  very  small,  tbe  largest  being  scarcel^^  a  mile  in  length,  and  tbe  water  they 
contain  is  beautifully  clear  and  sweet.  The  natives  sfteared  some  ti.sh,  wbich  were  of 
quite  a  red  color.  We  were  told  that  the  appearance  of  this  color  in  all  fish  of  the 
salmon  kind  was  due  to  their  having  migiated  from  salt  water  to  fresh.  Another 
characteristic  is  a  swelling  on  the,  l^ick  close  to  tbe  neck.  Red  salmon  are  generally 
devoid  of  that  fine  flavor  which  marks  the  ordinary  kind.  After  dinner,  the  boats- 
were  paddled  across  Lake  No.  4,  and  then  boats  and  goods  were  carried  to  the  stream 
flowing  into  Togiak  Bay.  Here  we  paid  off  Makalkab,  tbe  native  who  had  accom- 
panied us  fiom  Mumtracbagamute,  and  be  returned  home  in  his  kayak.  We  once 
more  packed  everything  into  our  boats,  and  then  launched  them  on  tbe  stream.  We 
found  it  even  worse  than  the  one  we  had  ascended.     In  one  place  the  banks  were  so 


72  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

narrow  that  we  Lad  to  drag  the  boats  through  by  niaiu  force.  At  another  the  bend 
was  so  abrupt  that  a  portion  of  the  banks  had  to  be  cut  away  to  admit  of  the  boats 
passing.  But  matters  soon  began  to  mend.  The  stream  gradually  widened,  until  it 
iit  last  deA'eloped  into  a  winding  mountain  torrent,  alive  with  trou^,  some  of  which 
we  saw  sliooting  through  the  water  with  incredible  velocity.  Our  own  progress  was 
now  as  rapid  as  it  had  jireviously  been  slow  ;  the  men  had  very  little  iiaddling  to  do, 
and  our  main  care  was  to  prevent  the  boat  froiu  running  into  the  bank  and  breaking 
up.  Many  a  time  we  were  washed  broadside  against  the  bank,  yet  our  bidarkas 
grazed  it  Avithout  receiving  any  injury. 

Traveling  under  these  conditions  was  most  enjoyable.  The  scenery  was  very 
beautiful;  the  view  was  bounded  on  either  side  by  well-s]lap^d  mountains,  rising 
from  the  i)lain  below,  with  snow  still  resting  on  them  in  patches.  Beibre  caiuping 
for  the  night,  we  first  heard  and  then  saw  a  bear,  the  only  one  we  met  with  during 
the  whole  of  our  travels. 

Juhi  2(i.  Saturday. -r.k  beautiful  morning,  the  sun  shining  bright  and  warm.  After 
a  good  long  rest,  we  started  at  10.30  a.  m.  down  the  clear  and  rapid  stream,  which  by 
this  time  had  attained  a  considerable  size.  In  a  short  time  clouds  again  gathered, 
and  we  had  rain  for  some  hours.  The  region  through  wHich  we  were  passing  is  oue 
vast  solitude,  over  which  bears  and  bii'ds  hold  undivided  sway.  We  took  dinner  at 
the  deserted  village  of  Aziavigamute,  and  then  made  our  way  in  a  short  time  to  To- 
giak  Bay.  Rounding  a  headland,  we  readied  the  sea  once  more,  and  encamped  on 
the  beach  opposite  the  island  of  Hagemeister,  near  the  mouth  of  a  small  clear  mount- 
ain stream.  The  weather  was  bright  again,  and  we  had  a  most  lieautiful  evening. 
The  sea  was  perfectly  calm.  On  our  way.  Brother  Weinland  shot  some  ducks,  and 
four  young  geese  were  hunted  down.  The  natives  also  speared  a  large  salmon,  so  that 
we  were  plentifully  supplied  with  fresh  meat.  We  hope  to  reach  Togiak  to-morrow. 
So  far  the  Lord  has  helped  and  preserved  us.     To  Him  be  all  the  praise! 

Jnhi  '2,1,  Sunday. — The  weather  was  tine,  the  sea  calm,  and,  a  gentle  wind  blowing 
in  our  favor,  we  thought  it  best  to  proceed  on  our  journey,  though  it  was  the  Lord's 
<iay.  Thunder-storms  were  forming  in  all  directions  except  out  at  sea,  so  we  fortu- 
nately escaped  the  heavy  showers  which  passed  along  the  shore  a  little  way  inland. 
After  dinner,  we  passed  under  some  high  clifts,  on  which  immense  numbers  of  sea-birds 
were  roosting. 

Here  Chimeyune,  being  troubled  with  boils,  was  unable  to  paddle  any  more,  so  the 
boat  in  which  I  was  seated  took  the  other  in  tow,  and  the  three  other  men  paddled 
on  with  renewed  energy,  intending,  if  possible,  to  reach  their  homes  in  the  village  of 
Togiakamute  .that  evening.  This  they  succeeded  in  doing  by  aboiit  10  p.  m.  Al- 
though we  reached  our  destination  so  late,  a  good  many  natives  came  round  us,  partly 
with  the  intention  of  welcoming  back  our  crew.  We  were  thoroughly  tired  out,  and 
glad  of  the  night's  rest.  Thanks  to  the  tine  weather,  we  had  once  more  dry  things  on  ' 
which  to  lie  down — a  comfort  we  had  not  eujoye^lfor  some  time. 

July  2f^,  Monday. — To  day  we  had  a  most  enjoyable  period  of  rest.  The  weather 
was  beautiful,  and  we  made  good  use  of  it  by  drying  the  rest  of  our  things,  which  we 
spread  out  on  the  gravelly  beach.  Although  many  Eskimos  were  about,  we  did  not 
miss  a  single  article.  We  enjoyed  the  sight  of  the  beautiful  scenery,  so  totally  dif- 
ferent from  that  of  the  Lower  Kiiskokwim.  Out  in  the  glittering  bay  lie  Hagemeister 
and  the  Walrus  Islands,  bathed,  as  it  were,  in  blue.  All  around  us  are  mountains, 
rising  either  in  ranges  or  in  isolated  peaks  from  the  plains. 

This  was  the  ]»lace  and  district  we  had  at  first  agreed  to  explore,  thinking  that  the 
country  bordering  on  the  Togiak  Bay  might  aftbrd  a  convenient  site  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a  mission.  But  as  the  Greek  Church  claims  the  whole  of  this  region  as  in- 
cluded in  the  range  of  lier  missionary  clt'orts,  we  did  not  wish  to  interfere. 

Prejiarations  and  arrangements  for  our  further  journey  employed  our  afternoon. 
Poor  Chimeyune  was  still  unfit  for  duty,  .so  we  ]>aid  him  about  £2  6s.  for  his  forty- 
five  days'  labor,  and  engaged  in  his  stead  a  man  named  Mikeila  Naumayuli.  The 
latter  was  a  very  fine  specimen  of  an  Eskimo,  a  well-made,  muscular  fellow,  about  6 
feet  in  height.  Towards  evening  I  accompanied  the  trader,  Demetri  Simonowitch,  in 
one  of  his  bidarkas  to  his  store,  situated  on  the  bay,  at  a  distance  of  two  hours'  row 
from  the  village,  and  bought  from  him  sea-biscuits,  sugar,  lard,  and  flour,  in  exchange 
for  knives.  Returning  to  our  camp  at  10  p.  m.,  I  was  quite  ready  for  the  tea  and  roast 
lish  which  Brother  Weinland  had  prepared. 

A  good  many  of  the  inhabitants  are  half-breeds.  Some  of  the  boys  have  very  good 
features.  I  was  much  pleased  with  one  old  man,  whose  acquaintance  Ave  had  tirst 
made  on  arriving  here  in  the  Dora,  and  who  wlis  evidently  glad  to  see  us  again. 
Had  the  natives  iieen  thievishly  inclined,  thei-e  Avere  many  little  things  lying  about 
which  they  might  have  taken  Avithout  fear  of  detection. 

W^e  intend  (D.  V.)  ascending  the  RiAcr  Toaiaiv  as  far  as  Kisianmnte  in  order  to  make 
ourselves  acquainted  with  the  stif^am  and  the  uatiA-es  inhabitin'g  its  banks. 

July  29,  Tuesday. — Slept  Avell  till  10  a.  m.  After  leisurely  cooking  our  breakfast 
and  packing  our  things  in  the  boats,  we  wished  to  start  at  once,  but  our  men  de- 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  73 

murred,  and  we  did  not  set  out  until  5  p.  ni.,  when  we  discovered  that  they  had  been 
waiting  for  the  high  tide  to  help  them  in  passing  ovei'  some  shallows  at  the  entrance 
of  the  river.  The  Togiak  is  rapid  and  beautifully  clear,  but  rather  shallow  in  many 
places.  We  reached  Ikaliulkhagamute  about  T.l.'j  p.  ni.,  and  met  with  a  friendly  re- 
ception from  the  natives.  The  .'icenery  here  is  beautiful;  monntaiua  rise  from  the 
plain  on  both  sides,  at  no  great  distance  from  the  river. 

Julu  W,  Wednesday. — I  slept  badly  in  consequence  of  the  mosquitoes,  and  a  rash 
which  has  been  troubling  me  for  some  days.  Before  leaving  Ikaliulkhagamute  we 
procured  from  the  natives  two  ciisbruchs,  or  rain-coats,  made  of  the  intestines  of  the 
walrus.  lu  exchange  for  the.se  we  ga\e  powder,  shot,  tobacco,  calico,  and  a  knife. 
Soon  it  began  to  rain,  and  then  our  ctsbruchs  ])roved  very  serviceable;  indeed,  we 
ought  to  have  had  them  from  the  commencement  of  our  journey.  After  we  had  dined, 
about  2  j».  m.,  amid  pouring  rain,  our  meu  pushed  on  bravely  against  the  strong  cur- 
rent, and  we  reached  Kisianmute  at  5.:i0  p.  m.  Petroti'  estimates  the  population  of 
this  village  at  600  ;  but,  from  actual  observation,  we  conclude  that  it  has  only  about 
half  that  number  of  inhabitants. 

A  native,  who  spoke  Russian  and  was  dressed  in  European  costume,  constituted 
himself  our  servant.  Boiling  a  kettle  of  water  for  ns,  he  brought  it,  and  squatted 
down  in  our  tent.  Sending  away  the  other  natives,  he  joined  ns  at  our  evening  meal 
as  if  it  were  a  matter  of  course.  We  had  no  objf-ction  to  his  doing  this,  on  account 
of  the  services  he  rendered.  After  supper  he  washed  the  cups,  knives,  and  forks. 
Again,  later  on  in  the  eveuing,  he  boiled  another  kettle  of  water  and  a  pot  of  salmon- 
berries.  We  gathered  some  words  from  the  natives,  and  found  them  very  willing  to 
teach  us.  We  tried  them  with  our  own  language,  and  found  that  it  was  more  dith- 
cult  for  them  to  pronounce  our  words  than  for  us  to  articulate  theirs.  A  group  of 
children  repeated  the  A,  B,  C  after  us  very  nicely. 

July  '.U,  Thursday. — We  traded  with  the  people  for  various  articles  in  exchange 
for  beads.  I  photographed  a  group  of  children  and  our  new  boatjuan,  Mikeila.  A 
good  many  of  the  men  at  this  place  cut  their  hair  in  a  peculiar  way,  which  causes 
them  to  resemble  monks  in  appearance.  Our  voyage  down  the  river  was  very  pleas- 
ant. After  bartering  with  the  natives  at  Ikaliulkhagamute  for  a  few  more  articles, 
we  returned  at  5.30  to  Togiakamute,  where  we  jdtclied  our  tent.  We  were  agreeably 
surprised  on  our  arrival  by  Demetri  handing  us  a  box  addressed  to  us.  Opening  it, 
we  discovered  a  letter  from  Mr.  Clarke,  who  had  very  kindly  sent  us  the  box  iVom 
Nushagak,  and  hoped  that  we  nn'uht  find  its  contents  acceptable.  It  contained 
thirty  good  cigars,  four  large  cakes  of  tobacco,  two  tins  of  boiled  oysters,  two  of 
corned  beef,  one  of  fresh  boiled  beef,  three  tins  of  sardiues,  one  of  peaches,  one  of 
corn,  and  one  of  peas. 

Thus  we  concluded  our  short  trij)  up  the  Togiak.  Truly  the  preseni'e  of  the  Lord 
has  been  with  us  all  through  our  journey.  We  have  suffered  no  w^nt,  and  enjoyed 
good  health  the  whole  time.  The  days  are  getting  a  little  shorter,  and  we  are  glad 
of  candles  to  light  our  tents  at  night. 

August  1,  Friday. — Again  I  could  not  sleep,  although  I  had  made  my  bed  as  com- 
fortable as  circumstances  would  i)erniit.  In  order  to  have  a  change  from  the  dry 
biscuit  (the  oily  bread  we  have),  I  made  a  damper  of  dour  and  water,  which,  though 
not  of  the  first  quality,  proved  very  palatable  when  eaten  with  our  cannetl  butter. 
We  rested  to-day,  and  enjoyed  a  good  sleep  in  the  afternoon.  The  natives  sing  mo- 
notonous songs,  or,  I  should  rather  say,  hum  them,  repeating  the  words  very  rapidly. 
The  words  sound  like  "Kauga  anga  ya,  anga  kanga  "  (ng  being  pronouuced  as  in 
sang,  rang).  As  they  seem  fond  of  singing,  it  will  be  a  pleasing  jiart  of  the  mission- 
aries' duty  to  teach  them  this  art.  This  was  my  own  experience  in  Australia,  and  if 
the  Eskimos  attain  the  same  ])roficiency  as  the  Australians,  their  teachers  will  feel 
amply  rewarded  for  their  trouble. 

Sitting  in  my  tent,  and  musing  on  what  I  had  observed  of  the  manners  and  customs 
of  this  people,  it  occurs  to  me  to  note  brietly  some  of  the  sights  which  we  have  not 
witnessed  amongst  them.  1.  As  intoxicating  licpiors  are  unknown  in  Alaska,  we  have 
never  seen  an  Eskimo  the  worse  for  drink.  '2.  We  have  never  witnessed  any  (piar- 
reling  amongst  them.  3.  We  have  never  seen  women  ill-treated  by  meu.  4.  We 
have  never  detected  the  nati^es  in  any  act  of  dishonesty,  nor  did  they  attempt  to 
steal  from  us  even  when  they  could  have  done  so  unnoticed.  5.  \Ve  never  have  had 
occasion  to  suspect  them  of  harboring  evil  designs  against  us;  we  were  perfectly  safe 
amongst  them. 

August  2,  Saturday. — Leaving  Togiakamute  at  9.45  a.  m.,  we  halted  for  a  few 
minutes  at  the  storehouse,  situated*  at  a  distance  of  ten  miles  from  the  village,  in 
spite  of  its  being  so  far  removed  Irom  the  trader's  dwelling,  no  depredatious  are  com- 
mitted upon  the  goods  stored  there.  We  proceeded  along  the  coa.st,  lined  with  clitVs 
from  40  to  .'>U  feet  high.  The  weather  being  favorable,  and  the  sea  coiin»aratively 
smooth,  the  journey  past  the  Walrus  Islands  was  delightful.  The  following  are  the 
native  names  of  these  islands,  as  1  gathered  them  from  the  elder  Wasliili,  our  boat- 
man:   lughakfuk,   Nuualuguk,   Nunivriak,  Gilchgik,  Ajashak,  and  lugerachtsuuk. 


74  EDUCATION   IN    ALASKA. 

Away  on  the  other  side  of  the  bay  is  the  long  island,  Kikchtiichpit  (Hagemeister). 
At  4  p.  m.  we  stopped  for  dinner  in  a  rocky  recess  opposite  the  fonrth  island.  Not 
thinking  it  safe  to  stay  over  night  in  this  otherwise  comfortable  retreat,  we  re-en- 
tered onr  boats,  and  onr  men  recommenced  paddling  leisurely  along  the  beautiful 
rock-bound  shore.  As  a  land  breeze  was  blowing,  the  sea  was  very  quiet,  and  the 
transparency  of  the  -svater  enabled  us  safely  to  pass  over  shallows  where  the  bottom 
of  the  boat  almost  grazed  the  rocks.  But  what  a  surf  there  must  be  here  in  a  west- 
erly gale!  The  wind  and  waves  have  done  their  work  amongst  these  rocks;  the 
points  of  some  of  them  are  detached  from  the  mainland  and  afford  a  safe  roosting  and 
breeding  place  for  large  numbers  of  sea-fowl.  At  8.1.5  p.  m.  we  landed  in  the  large 
bay  to  the  north  of  Kulluk  Bay.  After  carrying  our  boats  and  goods  beyond  reach 
of  the  high  tide,  we  pitched  our  tent  amid  high,  thick  grass.  A  short  distance  in- 
land there  is  a  small  lake  containing  fish,  so  if  detained  here  by  unfavorable  weather 
(for  we  can  only  pass  this  coast  in  calm  weather)  we  shall  be  able  to  follow  Nicolai's 
advice,  "No  go — eat,  sleep."  We  retired  to  rest  with  thankful  hearts,  and  were  lulled 
to  sleep  by  the  sound  of  the  breakers. 

August  3,  Sundai/. — A  lovely  morning.  We  left  our  camp  at  8.45  a.  m.,  and,  slowly 
coasting  along  the  gravelly  beach,  soon  came  again  upon  a  rocky  shore.  Some  seals 
made  their  appearance,  but  were  too  wary  to  be  caught.  In  the  next  bay  we  came 
upon  a  curious  rock,  about  10  feet  high,  standing  in  a  solitary  position  near  the 
shore.  We  climbed  the  steep  cliffs,  and  inspected  this  singular  freak  of  nature.  Its 
name  in  the  native  tongue  is  "Angerakfach."  Slowly  we  moved  on,  favorftd  with 
delightful  weather  and  a  calm  sea.  At  1  p.  m.,  having  made  but  little  progress,  as 
the  natives  were  in  no  hurry  to  press  forward,  we  stopped  near  a  beautifully  clear 
mountain  stream  and  dined  on  some  of  the  small  black  sea-fowl  so  plentiful  along 
the  shore. 

Hitherto  we  had  been  protected  from  the  strong  land  breeze  by  paddling  close 
under  the  high  cliffs.  But  rounding  the  next  headland  we  encountered  the  full  force 
of  the  wind,  and  experienced  a  rougher  sea  than  on  any  previous  occasion  during  our 
journey.  The  natives  put  on  their  cdsbruchs,  as  the  sea  was  washing  heavily  over 
the  forepart  of  the  boats.  We  could  feel  the  vibration  caused  by  the  shock,  but  for- 
tunately the  kayaks  were  able  to  resist  the  strain  to  which  they  were  thus  subjected. 
The  shore  is  lined  with  rocks,  between  which  the  natives  steered  the  boat  whenever 
it  was  safe  to  do  so,  in  order  to  avoid  the  rough  water.  Kulluk  Bay  is  long  and  com- 
paratively narrow,  and,  being  inclosed  by  mountains  on  both  sides,  presents  a  rather 
picturesque  appearance.  It  was  late  when  we  entered  the  bay,  but  our  men  were 
anxious  to  take  advantage  of  the  favorable  state  of  the  tide  in  order  to  reach  the  place 
from  whence  the  portage  has  to  be  made.  Now  came  a  long,  wearisome  journey. 
Hour  after  hour  we  traveled  on,  far  into  the  night.  We  ascended  a  winding  river  by 
moonlight,  the  dew  falling  heavily  around  us,  and  when  the  stream  diminished  in 
width,  passed  through  a  succession  of  swamjis  and  pools,  connected  by  shallow  and 
winding  channels.  At  last,  about  1  a.  m.,  we  encamped  for  the  remainder  of  the  night 
on  the  banks  of  a  pool  of  water  literally  full  of  fish. 

August  4,  Monday. — We  both  slept  well  till  10  a,  m.  The  day  was  beautifully  clear 
and  warm.  Our  men  searched  up  and  down  for  wood,  and  it  was  hard  to  say  where 
they  managed  to  find  some,  as  there  is  nothing  to  be  seen  in  this  low,  swampy  coun- 
try but  grass  and  tundra.  At  1  p.  m.  we  began  the  second  portage.  The  men  had 
first  of  all  to  pull  the  boats  up  a  little  stream  to  the  head  of  Lake  No.  I,  whilst  Brother 
Weinland  and  myself  walked  across  the  tundra,  along  a  footpath  which  had  been  used 
in  portages  years  ago.  Again  we  entered  the  boats,  and  were  rowed  across  the  lake. 
Then  the  kayaks  were  unloaded,  and  everything  made  into  bundles,  as  on  the  former 
occasion,  and  carried  by  the  natives  to  Lake  No.  2,  which  was  crossed  in  the  usual  way. 
Here  we  had  an  instance  of  the  obliging  disposition  of  the  Eskimos,  and  of  their  will- 
ingness to  render  us  a  service.  Our  last  tin  of  condensed  milk  and  Brother  Weinland's 
greatcoat  having  been  left  near  this  lake,  young  Washili  went  back  to  fetch  them. 
Then  we  found  that  the  ax  had  also  been  forgotten,  and  the  elder  Washili  at  once 
returned  for  it.  Lakes  3  and  4  are  not  far  apart,  and  the  boats  could  be  dragged 
over  the  intervening  tundra.  Lakes  4  and  5  are  separated  by  a  swamp,  into  which  we 
sank  almost  knee  deep.  Between  Lakes  .5  and  6  a  long  portage  of  a  mile  or  more  had 
to  be  effected  across  the  "divide."  It  was  a  hot  day,  and  the  mosquitoes  and  sand-flies 
were  very  troublesome.  The  natives  exhibited  great  powers  of  endurance.  We  tested 
Mikeila's  strength  by  giving  him  a  very  heavy  bundle  ;  but  he  carried  it  with  ease, 
smiling  and  exclaiming,  "Mekuk"  (little").  By  8  p.  m.  boats  and  goods  were  safely 
deposited  on  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  No.  6,  lo  ijiiles  long  and  about  3  miles  broad. 
All  our  clothes  were  dry,  the  weather  fine,  and  our  health  good.  How  gracious  the 
Lord  has  Vjeen  to  us,  and  how  kindly  He  has  led  and  protected  us! 

Augusts,  Tuesday. — A  strong  northwest  Vrind  having  sprung  up  during  the  night, 
we  were  at  first  unable  to  proceed.  The  natives  said,  "Ashietuk  !  Ashietuk!"  (bad, 
bad),  by  way  of  showing  us  that  it  was  uuadvisable  to  continue  our  journey  at  pres- 
ent.    The  wind  abating  about  4  p.  m.,  we  loaded  our  boats  and  started.     My  steers- 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  75 

man,  old  AVasliili,  being  very  cautions,  preferred  keeping  close  to  the  shore.  Brother 
Weinland's  men  at  first  launched  out  into  the  middle  of  the  lake,  but  after  a  while 
thought  it  more  prudent  to  join  us.  Now  and  then  the  boat  passed  through  dense 
shoals  of  fish.  Paddling  for  two  and  a  half  hours  brought  us  to  the  end  of  the  lake. 
By  that  time  the  wind  had  gone  down  and  the  water  was  again  smooth.  Rapidly 
shooting  dowu  the  stream,  which  forms  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  towards  evening  we 
reached  a  small  village  on  a  point  of  land  formed  liy  the  juncture  of  another  .stream 
with  the  one  we  descended.  We  pitched  our  tent  on  the  soft  tundra  behind  the  vil- 
lage, and  whilst  doing  this  and  cooking  our  supper  were  much  annoyed  by  the  mos- 
quitoes. We  were  greatly  pleased  to  notice  the  kind  way  in  which  our  men  treated 
a  poor  cripple  we  met  with  here,  carrying  him  from  the  village  to  our  camping  ground. 
The  sanitary  condition  of  this  place  was  most  unsatisfactory. 

August  (i,  JTefhiesday. — During  our  journey  down  the  stream  we  counted  in  one  place 
about  one  hundred  aud  twenty-five  dead  fish,  and  we  are  told  that  later  on  in  the 
season  the  banks  are  lined  with  them  to  the  depth  of  from  6  to  12  inches.  Presently 
we  entered  another  lake  of  considerable  size  aud  irregular  shape,  also  closed  in  by 
mountains.  At  its  southeastern  extremity  we  saw  pines  for  the  first  time  since  leav- 
ing Mumtrekhlagamnte.  The  outlet  from  this  lake  is  very  picturesque,  the  stream 
issuing  rapidly  between  high  banks.  At  1  p.  m.  we  reached  another  small  village, 
■where  we  took  dinner,  continuing  our  journey  at  4  p.  m.  The  river  soon  became 
deeper,  broader,  and  very  winding  in  its  course.  We  were  presently  exposed  to  a 
heavy  thunder  shower,  but  thanks  to  our  c^sbruchs  we  escaped  a  wetting.  The 
night  w\is  fine  and  moonlit,  and  we  pitched  our  tent  at  the  foot  of  a  mountain, 
close  by  the  water's  edge. 

August  7,  Thursday. — We  left  our  camp  at  10  a.  m.  And  now  our  patience  was  se- 
verely tried,  for,  on  account  of  the  extremely  tortuous  nature  of  the  river  Igushek, 
we  were  a  little  more  than  two  miles  in  a  direct  line  from  our  last  camping  place  after 
three  hours  paddling,  with  the  tide  in  our  favor.  On  our  way  down.  Brother  Weinland 
shot  about  twenty  ducks  and  two  geese,  and  we  in  our  boat  captured  one  goose  and 
one  duck.  We  gave  our  men  four  ducks,  but  these  not  being  enough  to  satisfy  them 
they  helped  themselves  to  four  more.  Splendid  paddling  on  the  part  of  our  crew 
brought  us  by  10  p.  m.  to  the  mouth  of  the  river.  The  air  w^as  cold  enough  to  make 
us  feel  thankful  for  our  fur  coats.     To-morrow  we  hope  to  reach  Nnshagak. 

August  8,  Friday. — We  were  roused  from  a  sound  sleep  by  our  men  at  .5  a.  m.,  as  we 
had  to  take  advaatage  of  the  inflowing  tide  to  reach  Nushagak.  The  morning  was 
close,  warm,  and  misty.  On  leaving  our  tent,  we  were  beset  by  such  swarms  of  sand- 
flies as  made  it  difficult  for  us  to  pack  our  boats  and  prepare  breakfast,  for  one  hand 
at  least  had  to  be  continually  employed  in  keeping  these  stinging  insects  from  our 
faces  and  necks.  We  therefore  made  haste  to  launch  as  quickly  as  possible.  As  we 
proceeded,  the  mist  rose,  and  was  followed  by  a  gentle  rain,  which  did  not,  however, 
last  long.  At  the  mouth  of  the  river  we  fell  in  with  a  large  flock  of  young  geese,  of 
which  twenty-four  were  captured.  Favored  again  with  magnificent  weather,  we 
proceeded  straight  across  the  bay  towards  Nnshagak.  Our  men  were  kept  hard  at 
work  from  10  a.  m.  to  6  p.  m.,  when  Nnshagak  was  at  length  safely  reached.  We 
were  met  here  and  welcomed  by  Mr.  Clarke  and  others,  our  boats  were  drawn  ashore, 
and  our  goods  placed  by  the  natives  in  the  company's  store.  We  had  supper  at  Mr. 
Clarke's,  who  also  gave  us  accommodation  for  the  night.  The  Lord  be  praised  for 
thus  bringing  us  back  again  to  this  place  in  safety  and  in  health. 


Appendix  J. 

SCHOOL  RECORDS   OF   THE   COMMON   COUNCIL   OF   SITK.A.,    ALASKA,    1867-73. 

Petition  for  a  school. 

Sitka,  December  18,  1867. 
Hon.  W.S.Dodge, 

Mayor  of  the  city  of  Sitka  : 
The  undersigned  voters  in  said  city  hereby  request  that  you  will  call  a  meeting  of 
the  legal  voters  therein,  as  prescribed  by  section  lf>  of  city  charter,  in  order    »     »     * 
to  give  the  council  power  to  establish  such  a  system  of  public  schools  as  it  may  see 
fit  and  proper  to  adopt. 

[Signed  by  49,  two  of  whom  made  their -f-  mark.] 


76  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

Purchase  of  school  iuilding. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  common  council,  October  27,  1868,  among  the  proposed 
actions  for  the  council  was  the  purchase  of  a  suitable  building  for  the  use  of  the  city, 
as  a  public  school,  and  to  which  was  added  the  jiroposition  of  the  Masonic  lodge 
about  to  be  organized  here  to  advance  one-half  the  purchase  money,  and,  as  a  consid- 
eration, take  a  lease  of  one-half  of  the  building  for  the  term  of  ninety-nine  years. 

This  having  been  discussed  and  favored  by  the  council.  Judge  Storer  introduced 
resolution  No.  87,  which  was  adopted. 

Be  it  resolved  hy  the  council,  That  the  mayor  be,  and  hereby  is,  empowered  to  pur- 
chase for  the  use  of  the  city,  from  the  Russian-American  Company,  the  building  op- 
posite the  club  house,  No-56  in  the  map  and  inventories  attached  to  the  protocol  of 
■the  treaty  of  transfer. 

Approved. 

W.  S.  DODGE. 

Portion  of  school  building  leased  to  a  Masonic  lodge. 

Regular  Meeting  of  City  Council,  November  13,  1808. 
At  the  request  of  Mr.  Storer,  the  mayor  submitted  his  action  with  regard  to  the  pur- 
chase of  a  building  for  city  purposes. 

The  deed  for  the  same  (No.  56)  was  read  and  approved,  and  ordered  placed  among 
the  archives  of  said  city.  The  deed  is  considered  as  a  voucher  for  the  payment  of  the 
consideration  money,  $300. 

W.  S.  DODGE,  Mayor. 

The  back  rooms  on  lower  floor  and  attic  were  leased  for  ninety-nine  years  to  Alaska 
Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.,  in  consideration  of  $150. 
October  27,  1868. 

School  trustees. 

Regular  Meeting  of  Common  Council,  January  21,  1869. 

Mr.  Parker  introduced  resolution  113,  which  was  passed. 

Resolution  113. — Whereas  the  mayor  has  informed  the  common  council  that  the  city 
is  about  to  come  into  possession  of  the  building  No.  56,  which  building  was  purchased 
for  school  purposes  in  December  last:  Now,  therefore, 

(1)  Be  it  resolved,  That  under  and  by  virtue  of  Article  V  of  the  amendments  to  the 
city  charter,  the  council  do  appoint  a  board  of  trustees,  consisting  of  two  lawful  citi- 
zens and  freeholders,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  make  all  necessary  provisions  pertain- 
ing to  the  fitting  np  of  the  said  building  and  the  sjjeedy  establishment  of  a  public 
school. 

(2)  Be  it  resolved,  That  said  board  of  trustees  shall  make  due  report  to  the  council 
of  all  things  necessary  for  the  successful  maintenance  of  said  school,  and  to  make 
such  recomrawndations  in  all  things  pertaining  to  the  same  as  they  may  deem  proper 
for  the  consideration  and  action  of  the  council. 

(3)  Be  it  resolved,  That  the  mayor  be  ex-officio  president  of  the  said  board  of  trust- 
ees, and  shall  preside  at  the  meetings  of  said  board,  and  shall  have  kept  in  a  proper 
book  a  record  of  its  transactions. 

Approved. 

W.  S.  DODGE,  Mayor. 
School  trustees  appointed. 

At  the  same  meeting  (January  21,  1869)  Mr.  Parker  also  introduced  resolution  No. 
114. 

Beit  resolved,  That  Aaron  Le^y  and  Patrick  Burns  be,  and  are  hereby,  appointed  a 
board  of  trustees  by  the  council  for  the  public  school  about  to  be  established  in  this 
city. 

Approved. 

W.   S.   DODGE. 
Appointment  of  trustees  7-evoked. 

Regular  Meeting,  March  16,  1869. 

S.  C.Parker  introduced  resolution  No.  115,  which  passed. 

Whereas,  The  public  building  in. the  city  of  Sitka  known  as  the  public  school-house 
is  fini.shed,  and  further  need  of  trustees  being  deemed  unnecessary:  Therefore, 

Be  it  resolved  in  council  assembled,  That  re-solution  No.  114,  appointing  A.Levy  and 
P.  Burns  trustees  of  public  schools,  is  hereby  repealed. 

At  the  same  meeting  Mr.  Storer  iutroduced  resolution  117. 

Resolved,  That  the  acting  mayor  be,  and  hereby  is,  empowered  to  confer  with  Colonel 
Dennisou  relative  to  the  organization  aud  management  of  the  public  school. 


.?*n:%. 


"^^.^',^''0^ 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  77 

Joint  militayif  and  ciril  control  of  j))thUc  school. 

Special  Meeting,  March  20,  1869. 

Council  met  ai  7  p.  m.,  pursuant  to  a  call  issued  by  the  acting  mayor,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  taking  into  consideration  the  best  method  of  managing  the  affairs  of  the  pub- 
lic school  in  conjunction  witli  the  "  ])0sl  council  of  administration." 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Storer  resolution  No.  119  was  carried  unanimously: 

Kesolved,  That  C.  B.  Jlontague,  Aaron  Levy,  and  Patrick  Burns  be  chosen  trustees 
of  the  public  school  on  behalf  of  the  city  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Previous  to  the  passage  of  this  resolution  the  council  adopted  ordinance  No.  30. 

School  trustees  and  their  duties. 

[Ordinance  No.  36.] 

Be  it  ordained  hij  the  city  council  of  the  citj/  of  Sitlca  : 

Sec.  1.  That  a  hoard  of  three  trustees  shall  be  chosen  by  the  city  council  annually,, 
in  the  month  of  March,  for  the  purpose  of  managing  the  affairs  of  the  public  school  in 
the  manner  hereinafter  pre.scribed. 

Sec.  2.  Said  trustees  shall,  together  with  such  others  as  may  be  joined  with  them 
by  the  post  council  of  administration,  select  a  competent  teacher  for  said  school;  lix 
the  compensation  of  said  teacher;  adopt  such  text  books  as  they  may  .see  tit  to  pre- 
scribe; regulate  the  laws  of  instruction;  provide  fuel  aud  other  necessary  articles  for 
the  use  of  the  school,  an<l  have  a  general  supervision  of  the  care  of  the  school-house. 

Sec.  3.  Said  trustees  shall,  before  making  any  expenditure  of  money  for  the  school, 
communicate  to  the  city  council  in  writing  the  amount  needed  by  them,  and  the  pur- 
poses for  which  such  money  may  be  required.  They  shall  not  incur  any  liabilities  or 
make  any  expenditures  until  the  same  are  approved  by  the  city  council. 

Sec.  4.  The  tru.stee8  shall  make  to  the  city  council  semi-annual  reports  of  the  con- 
dition of  the  school,  together  with  an  account  of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  therefor. 

Sec.  5.  The  trustees  chosen  by  the  city  council  shall  confer  with  the  post  council  of 
administration  in  all  matters  connected  with  the  school. 

Sec.  6.  The  trustees  chosen  by  the  city  council  shall  hold  of3Sce  from  the  1st  of  April 
one  year  to  the  1st  of  April  of  another :  Provided,  however,  That  the  first  board  elected 
under  this  ordinance  shall  serve  from  the  time  of  their  election  until  the  1st  of  April, 
1870. 

Sec.  7.  This  ordinance  shall  take  effect  from  and  after  Its  passage. 

C.  B.  MONTAGUE, 

Acting  Mayor. 

Sitka  Common  Council,  April  21,  1869. 

The  mayor  read  the  minutes  of  the  meeting  of  the  board  of  school  trustees  of  April 
8,  1869. 

Mr.  Storer  moved  that  the  mayor  be  empowered  to  have  the  water-closet  of  the  pub- 
lic school  inclosed. 

Mr.  Blake  introduced  resolution  130.     Passed. 

Resolved,  That  the  city  purchase  for  the  use  of  the  district  school,  in  the  city  of  Sitka, 
one  globe,  f6.50  ;  one  set  Wilson's  charts,  $20 ;  one  set  Cornell's  outline  maps,  with  key, 
$20;  total,  $46,  less  20  per  cent. 

Bill  for  school  supplies. 

Common  Council,  July  6,  1869. 
Mr.  Storer  presented  bill  for  $17.88.     Articles  purchased  for  the  city  school  room. 
Same  was  ordered  paid. 

Regular  Meeting,  Septemler  7,  1869. 
[Resolution  No.  168.] 
Besolved,  That  the  mayor  be  requested  to  confer  with  the  post  commander  in  rela- 
tion to  the  public  school,  especially  as  to  whether  or  not  the  post  council  of  adminis- 
tration intends  to  continue  its  contributions  to  the  support  of  said  school. 
Approved. 

WM.  SUMNER  DODGE,  Mayor. 

Special  Meeting,  Septeviber  15,  1869. 
[Resolution  No.  171.] 
Resolved,  That  the  mayor  be,  and  is  hereby,  authorized  to  settle  the  bill  of  H.  H. 
Bancroft  &  Co.,  for  school  books  aud  other  articles  purchased. by  H.  T.  Bingham,  en 
March  4,  1869. 
Approved. 

W.  S.  DODGE,  Mayer. 


78  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

Eegular  Meeting,  October  5,  1869. 
Mr.  Moutague  iutroduced  resolution  174. 

Resolved,  That  from  aud  after  the  1st  day  of  October,  1869,  the  salary  of  the  teacher 
in  the  public  school,  iu  the  city  of  Sitka,  shall  be  |75  iu  coin  per  month. 

WM.  SUMNER  DODGE,  Maijor. 

Kegular  Meeting,  October  19,  1869. 

Mr.  Kinkead  introduced  resolution  180. 

That  the  bill  i>f  P.  B.  Ryan,  for  janitor  and  washing  the  public  school  room,  amount- 
ing to  ^4,  and  the  bill  of  P.  Burns,  for  a  like  purpose,  amounting  to  !5i2,  be  allowed, 
and  the  mayor  authorized  to  draw  his  wari-aut  upon  the  treasurer  for  the  same. 

Special  Meeting,  December  28,  1869. 
Councilman  Montague,  chairman  of  the  board  of  school  trustees,  submitted  report 
of  board  in  relation  to  the  present  public  school  teacher.  Miss  Mercer,  appointing  her 
as  such  for  a  term  of  4  months,  from  the  let  day  of  January,  1870,  at  a  salary  of  $75, 
coin,  per  mouth.     Report  accepted  and  approved,  aud  ordered  to  be  placed  on  file. 

Regular  Meeting,  March  8,  1870. 
[Resolution  No.  26.] 
Resolved,  That  the  bill  of  H.  Spanier,  amounting  to  $3,  for  one  chair  for  city  school- 
room, be  accepted  and  ordered  paid. 

Regular  Meeting,  April  5,  1870. 
Councilman  Montague  submitted  and  read  to  council  report  of  the  board  of  school 
trustees  for  the  year  ending  March  31,  1870.     Same  accepted  and  ordered  placed  on 
file. 

Council  proceeded  to  ballot  for  school  trustees  for  the  ensuing  year,  resulting  in 
choice  of  ttie  former  trustees,  Messrs.  C.  B.  Montague,  Aaron  Levy,  and  Patrick 
Burns. 

Special  Meeting,  April  23,  1870. 
Mayor  Storer  stated  object  of  the  meeting  being  to  hear  the  report  of  the  board  of 
school  trustees.  Councilman  Montague,  chairman  of  the  board,  read  a  report  of  the 
same.  Miss  Addie  Mercer,  the  present  teacher,  was  further  engaged  until  the  arrival 
of  the  steamer  Newbern,  after  which  the  services  of  Mrs.  C.  B.  Moutague  were  en- 
gaged to  fulfill  the  unexpired  term  of  the  present  incumbent.  Report  accepted  and 
ordered  to  be  placed  on  file. 

Regular  Meeting,  July  5,  1870. 
Councilman  Burgman  introduced  resolution  58. 

Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  $5.50  be  paid  to  C.  B.  Montague  for  items  paid  for  the 
city  school,  and  that  an  order  be  given  on  the  city  treasurer  to  pay  the  same. 

Regular  Meeting,  September  20,  1870. 

The  mayor  read  a  communication  from  Mr.  P.  Burns,  school  trustee,  protesting 
against  the  action  of  Mr.  A.  Levy  in  appointing  Mrs.  Murphy  teacher  of  the  public 
schools.     Said  protest  received  and  placed  on  file. 

Mr.  Kinkead  offered  resolution  59. 

Resolved,  That  the  council  proceed  to  the  election  of  one  school  trustee  in  place  of 
C.  B.  Montague,  he  having  removed  from  town.  Election  resulted  in  the  selection  of 
Mr.  John  A.  Fuller. 

Mr.  Fuller  offered  resolution  62. 

Resolved,  That  the  bill  of  Kinkead  &  Co.  for  $7  for  purchase  of  curtains,  &c.,  for  the 
city  be  paid,  and  the  mayor  is  herebj'  authorized  to  draw  his  warrant  for  the  same. 

Mr.  Fuller  oftered  resolution  63. 

Resolved,  That  bill  of  A.  Levy  for  |;9  for  erecting  a  swing  for  the  benefit  of  the  school 
children  be  jjaid,  and  the  mayor  is  hereby  authorized  to  draw  his  warrant  for  the 
same. 

Special  Meeting,  February  23,  1871. 

Mr.  Fuller  presented  ordinance  No.  52. 

Be  it  ordained  by  the  mayor  and  common  council  of  the  city  of  Sitka,  That  the  salary  of 
the  city  school  teacher  shall  be  $25  per  month  from  aud  after  March  1,  1871. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Kinkead,  the  clerk  was  ordered  to  inform  the  school  trustees  of  the 
reduction  iu  the  teacher's  pay,  and  to  post  the  ordinances  adopted  at  this  meeting  in 
conspicuous  places  for  the  information  of  the  citizens. 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  79 

Special  Meeting.  August  12,  1871. 
Mr.  Kiukead  offered  resolutiou  grantiuy  permission  to  the  Rus.siah  bishop  to  teach 
the  Russian  language  one  hour  each  day  in  the  public  school.     Adopted. 
[Resolution  No.  96.] 
Besolved,  That  the  use  of  the  city  school-house  be,  and  hereby  is,  tendered  to  the 
Russian  subjects  for  such  hours  and  at  such  time  as  will  not  contiict  with  the  city 
school. 

Regular  Meeting,  June20,  1871. 
C.  Myer,  service  in  school-house,  !|3. 

Regular  Meeting,  January  16,  1872. 
A  communication  from  Mr.  A.  H.  Allen,  master  of  the  city  school,  asking  for  an  in- 
crease of  his  salary  from  if 25  to  |40  was  presented,  when, Mr.  Corcoran  presented  res- 
olution 105,  increasing  the  school  teacher's  salary  to  $35  per  mouth  from  and  after  this 
16th  day  of  January,  which,  on  motion,  was  adopted. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Burns,  Mess'"s.  Corcoran,  McKnight;  and  Lieutenant  Mitchell 
were  appointed  a  board  of  school  trustees  for  the  ensuing  year. 

WM.  H.  WOOD,  Manor. 

Hall  of  City  Council,  January  28,  lir'73. 
A  communication  from  George  R.  McKnight,  esq.,  tendering  his  resignation  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Sitka  public  school,  was  read,  and  on  motion 
his  resignation  was  accepted  ;  whereupon  Henry  E.  Cutter  was  elected  to  fill  the  va- 
cancy. On  motion  Maj.  J.  Stewart  was  elected  to  till  a  vacancy  in  said  board  of  trus- 
tees, occasioned  by  the  departure  of  Lieutenant  Mitchell. 

Hall  of  City  Council,  February  4,  1873. 

A  communication  from  Maj.  J.  Stewart,  thanking  the  council  for  the  compliment 
paid  him  in  electing  him  a  member  of  the  board  of  school  trustees 

P.  Burns's  bill  for  wood  furnished  public  school  at  sundry  times,  amount  $2,  was  or- 
dered paid. 


Appendix   K. 

In  the  district  court  of  the  United  States  for  the  district  of  Alaska. 

At  a  term  thereof  begun  and  held  at  Sitka  (May  term)  on  the  5th  day  of  October, 
1885. 

Present,  the  honorable  Edward  J.  Dawne,  judge.  The  following  order  was  made 
and  entered  of  record,  to  wit : 

In  the  United  States  district  court  for  the  district  of  Alaska. 

The  United  States  ) 

V.  >  On  indictment  for  obstructing  public  roads. 

Sheldon  Jackson.    ) 

On  indictments  JVbs.  19,20,  and  21. 

In  tjiese  causes  the  indictments  are  set  aside  and  defendant's  bail  exonerated  ui)on 
motion  of  the  United  States  district  attorney,  made  for  the  reason  that  the  indict- 
ments are  neither  of  them  indorsed  "  A  true  bill "  and  such  indorsement  signed  by 
the  foreman  of  the  grand  jury,  as  required  by  sec.  6,  ch.  vii,  page  348,  and  applied  by 
sec.  115,  ch.  X,  page  3.55,  criminal  code  of  Oregon,  upon  sec.  715,  ch.  x,  page  445,  of 
which  said  indictments  are  founded,  and  which  omission  has  been  held  by  the  court 
as  sutticient  ground  for  dismissal  in  case  No.  18. 

And  the  district  attorney  asks  to  liave  it  spread  upon  the  record  that  he  will  not, 
of  his  own  motion,  nor,  unless  required  to  act  upon  the  complaint  of  some  party  who 
shall  feel  aggrieved  by  the  alleged  obstruction,  take  further  action  in  the  premises, 
for  the  reasons : 

(1)  That  the  code  of  Oregon,  sec.  5,  ch.  i,  page  461,  provides,  in  express  terms, 
that  offenses  defined  in  section  715  (under  which  theseindictments  are  found)  shall  be 
subject  to  the  jurisdiction  of  justices  of  the  peace,  whoso  authority  is  conferred  on 
United  States  commissioners  in  this  district  under  section  5  of  the  organic  act. 

(2)  That  the  known  and  well-detined  facts  which  constitute  the  alleged  offense  are 
jiot  such  as,  in  his  opinion,  would  warrant  a  conviction  by  a  trial  jury,  the  obstruc- 


80  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

tiou  in  one  case  being  imrely  teclinieal  and  not  supported  by  reason  for  its  application, 
and  ill  the  others  an  alteration  iiavin<r  been  made  whicli  comes  within  the  spirit  of 
ihe  Oregon  law  (its  letter  not  beingcapable  of  l)eing  applied  for  want  of  county  court 
machinery),  in  that  it  not  only  does  not  "  materially  increase  the  distance,  to  the  in- 
jury of  the  public,"  but  in  fact  is  in  all  respects  "equal  to  the  old  for  the  convenience 
of  travelers,"  and  will  be,  when  completed,  superior. 

Which  request  is  granted. 

EDWARD  J.  DAWNE, 

District  Judge. 
The  United  States  of  America, 

District  of  Alasl'a,  ss  : 

I,  A.  T.  Lewis,  clerk  of  the  United  States  district  court  for  the  district  of  Alaska, 
do  hereby  certify  that  the  foregoing  copy  of  an  order  of  court,  made  on  the  5th  day 
of  October,  1S85,  of  the  May  term,  Hon.  Edward  J.  Dawne,  judge,  has  been  by  me 
compared  with  the  original,  and  that  it  is  a  correct  transcript  therefrom  and  of  the 
whole  of  such  original,  as  the  same  appears  of  record  on  the  journal  at  my  office  and 
in  my  custody. 

In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  affixed  the  seal  of  said  court, 
at  Sitka,  in  said  district,  this  5th  day  of  October,  1885. 

[seal.]  ANDREW  T.  lewis, 

Clerk. 


Appendix  L. 

statement  of  facts  in  relation  to  the  troubles  in  the  iiTKA  ixdian  indus- 
trial a:sd  training  school  at  sitka,  alaska,  in   1S»5,  by  prof.  a.   j.  da  vis, 

then  superintendent  of  the  training  school  at  SITKA,  ALASKA,  NOW  CON- 
NECTED with  the  department  of  public  INSTRUCTION  OF  THE  STATE  OP  PENN- 
SYLVANIA. 

On  the  11th  day  of  March,  1885,  I  arrived  at  Sitka,  Alaska,  and  at  once  assumed 
charge  of  the  Indian  school  as  its  superintendent. 

The  steamer  on  which  I  traveled  from  Portland,  Oreg.,  to  Sitka  had  among  its  pas- 
sengers an  Indian  woman  who  took  passage  at  Victoria,  B.  C.  From  all  that  I  ob- 
served while  on  board  the  steamer,  together  with  what  I  gathered  from  conversation 
■with  others  on  the  route,  I  had  every  reason  to  believe  the  woman  to  be  of  very  doubt- 
ful character.  This  woman  claimed  to  be  a  cousin  of  one  of  the  young  girls  in  the 
training  school,  and  soon  after  her  arrival  at  Sitka  she  had  issued  a  writ  of  habeas 
corpus  for  the  person  of  the  young  girl  in  question.  The  girl  was  taken  before  Hon. 
Ward  McAllister,  United  States  district  judge.  As  soon  as  I  heard  of  the  proceeding 
I  hastened  to  the  court.  This  was  about  U  o'clock  p.  m.  When  I  arrived  in  the  court- 
room the  evidence  for  the  plaintiff  was  almost  all  heard.  When  I  succeeded  in  gain- 
ing the  attention  of  the  court  I  stated  that  I  was  now  superintendent  of  the  school 
and  desired  to  be  heard,  adding  that  from  what  I  had  seen  and  heard  while  on  board 
the  steamer  I  did  not  regard  the  woman  as  a  lit  person  to  whom  to  contide  a  young 
girl. 

The  court  refused  to  hear  me  further,  and  peremptorily  decided  that  the  woman 
could  take  the  girl,  which  she  did  accordingly,  and  left  on  the  steamer  early  on  the 
following  morning.  Neither  time  nor  opportunity  was  given  me  to  secure  counsel  or 
make  a  defense.  Subsequent  events  did  not  change  my  opinion  of  the  character  or 
purpose  of  the  woman. 

The  effect  of  the  rulings  of  the  court  in  this  and  a  subsequent  case  was  to  cause 
almost  one  half  of  the  children  to  run  away  from  the  school,  and  to  prejudice  the 
natives  against  placing  other  children  in  the  institution.  The  fate  of  many  of  the 
larger  girls  who  ran  away  may  be  inferred.  A  letter  just  received  from  one  of  the 
employes  of  the  school  .states: 

"  One  of  the  Home  girls  who  ran  away  last  summer  came  up  to  the  house  sobbing 
as  if  her  heart  would  break,  and  begged  us  to  take  her  back  again.  She  had  lived  a 
very  wicked  life  since  leaving  the  Home,  so  with  aching  hearts  we  were  compelled  to 
refuse  her." 

I  have  many  reasons  to  believe  that  some  of  the  civil  officers  at  that  time  in  the 
Territory  were  inimical  to  the  school  and  wei'e  responsible  for  much  harm  done. 

My  connection  with  the  school  made  me  cognizant  of  much  that  Hon.  Sheldon  Jack- 
son did  while  he  had  charge  of  the  institution,  and  while  I  was  in  the  Territoiy  I 
failed  to  see  any  disregard  on  his  part  of  the  lawful  rights  of  parents  and  citizens. 
His  zeal,  energy,  and  thorough  devotion  to  the  work  are  to  be  commended.  He  was- 
abused  and  persecuted  by  those  who  should  have  seconded  his  efforts,  and  many  acts- 
were  resorted  to  in  order  to  hinder  his  plans. 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  81 

I  deem  it  due  to  Dr.  Jacksou  that  the  al>ove  facts  should  be  known,  and  that  he 
should  be  permitted  to  complete  the  work  he  has  begun  and  continued  with  so  much 
eflSciency  and  personal  sacrifice. 

A.  J.  DAVIS. 
State  of  Pennsylvania,  Couniy  of  Dauphin,  ss : 

On  the  6th  day  of  February,  A.  D.  1886,  personally  appeared  before  me,  a  notary 
public,  residing  in  the  said  city,*  A.  J.  Davis,  who,  having  been  duly  aflQrmed  accord- 
ing to  law,  deposeth  that  the  facts  set  forth  in  the  foregoing  statement  are  correct  to 
the  best  of  his  knowledge  and  belief. 

A.  J.  DAVIS. 
Affirmed  and  subscribed  before  me  the  dav  and  year  aforesaid. 
[SEAL.]  '  J.  WESLEY  AWL, 

Notary  Public. 


Appendix  M. 


Annual  report  of  training  school  at  Sitka,  AlasTia,  for  1884-'35. 

Sitka,  Alaska,  July  1,  1885. 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  send  you  the  following  annual  report  of  the  Indian  in- 
dustrial and  training  school,  Sitka,  Alaska,  for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1885: 

As  this  is  the  first  report  to  your  ofdce  from  this  school,  a  brief  preliminary  state- 
ment is  in  order. 

In  the  spring  of  1876  nine  Tsimpsheau  Indians  came  up  the  coast  from  Port  Simp- 
son, British  Columbia,  and  took  a  contract  for  cutting  wood  for  the  military  post 
then  at  Fort  Wrangell,  Alaska. 

At  the  close  of  their  contract,  in  the  fall,  as  they  were  about  returning  to  Port 
Simpson,  Clah,  who  had  beeu  the  leader  among  those  Indians,  was  persuaded  to 
remain  and  open  a  school.  Such  was  the  anxiety  of  the  people  to  learn  that  his  school 
was  attended  by  60  to  70  adults,  besides  children.  ''These  people,"  said  a  sailor, 
"  are  crazy  to  learn.  Going  up  the  beach  last  night  I  overheard  an  Indian  girl  spell- 
ing words  of  one  and  two  syllables.  Upon  looking  into  the  house,  I  found  that,  un- 
able to  procure  a  school-book,  she  was  learning  from  a  scrap  of  newspaper  that  she 
had  picked  up." 

Touched  by  the  eagerness  of  this  people  to  learn,  a  soldier  at  the  post  wrote  to 
Major-Geneial  Howard,  then  in  command  of  that  military  district,  asking  if  some 
society  could  not  be  interested  to  send  them  a  competent  teacher.  The  letter  was 
placed  in  my  hands  in  May,  1877,  and  immediately  published  in  the  Chicago  Tribune. 
To  gain  a  better  understanding  of  this  movement  of  the  natives  for  a  school,  I  made 
them  a  visit  in  August,  1877.  In  passing  through  Portland  I  found  a  teacher  who 
had  had  large  experience  in  mission  work  and  Indian  schools — Mrs.  A.  R.  McFarlaud 
— whom  I  took  with  me. 

Going  ashore  upon  our  arrival,  August  10,  I  heard  the  ringing  of  the  bell  for  the 
afternoon  school,  and  went  directly  to  the  school  house.  About  twenty  pupils  were 
in  attendance,  mostly  young  Indian  women.  Two  or  three  boys  were  present;  also 
a  mother  and  her  three  little  children.  As  the  women  took  their  seats  on  the  rough 
plank  benches  each  one  bowed  her  head  in  silent  prayer,  seeking  divine  help  in  her 
studies.  Soon  a  thoughtful  Indian  man  of  about  twenty-five  years  of  age  came  in 
and  took  his  seat  behind  the  rude  desk.  The  familiar  hymn  "What  a  friend  we  have 
in  Jesus"  was  sung  in  English;  a  prayer  followed  in  the  Chinook  jargon,  which  is 
the  common  language  of  the  various  trilies  on  this  coast,  closing  with  the  repetition, 
in  concert,  of  the  Lord's  Prayer  in  English.  After  lessons  were  studied  and  recited, 
the  school  arose,  sung  the  long-meter  doxology,  and  recited  in  concert  the  benedic- 
tion. Then  the  teacher  said,  "Good  afternoon,  my  pupils,"  to  which  came  the  kindly 
response,  "  Good  afternoon,  teacher." 

The  school  was  in  full  operation,  but  under  great  difficulties.  They  greatly  needed 
maps  and  charts  ;  they  were  also  in  great  need  of  a  school-house.  At  the  time  of  my 
visit  thej^  were  renting  a  dance-hall  for  a  school-room.  U})on  the  return  of  the  miners 
for  the  winter  the  hall  had  to  be  given  up,  and  the  school  was  held  in  a  dilapidated 
log  house.  I  found  their  stock  of  books  inventoried  as  follows:  four  small  Bibles, 
four  hymn  books,  three  primers,  thirteen  lirst  readers,  and  one  wall  chart. 

Mrs.  McFarlaud  was  at  once  placed  in  charge  of  the  school,  with  Clah  as  an  assist- 
ant, and  Mrs.  Sarah  Dickinson,  a  Christian  Tongass  Indian,  as  interpreter.  Early  in 
the  history  of  her  school  Mrs.  McFarlaud  found  a  difficulty  in  holding  her  girl  pupils. 
According  to  the  customs  of  their  people,  they  were  frequently  hired  or  sold  by  their 
own  mothers  to  white  men  and  others  for  base  purposes.     And  the  brighter  the  girl 

*  Harriaburg. 

7018  AL 6 


82  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

the  greater  her  danger;  for,  as  she  improved  in  the  school,  she  began  to  dress  more 
neatly,  comb  her  hair,  and  keep  her  person  more  cleanly;  the  dull,  stolid  cast  of  coun- 
tenance gave  way  to  the  light  of  intelligence,  and  she  began  to  be  more  attractive, 
and  consequently  in  greater  demand.  To  save  these  girls  necessitated  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  "home  "  into  vrhieh  they  could  be  gathered,  and  thus  taken  out  from 
Tinder  the  control  of  their  mothers.  Consequently  a  home  was  added  to  the  school 
in  October,  1878,  and  kept  in  what  was  formerly  the  hospital  building  of  the  mili- 
tary post. 

In  July,  1879,  I  made  a  second  trip  to  Alaska,  taking  with  me  Miss  Maggie  J.  Dun- 
bar, of  Steubenville,  Ohio,  as  teacher.  Relieved  from  the  care  of  the  school-room, 
Mrs.  McFarland  was  able  to  gi^e  her  whole  time  to  the  boarding  and  industrial  de- 
partments. 

During  that  season  I  commenced  the  erection  of  a  large  two-story  building,  with 
basement  and  attic,  40  by  60  feet,  for  the  use  of  the  home  and  school,  which  was  com- 
pleted the  following  season  at  an  expense  of  $7,600. 

In  March,  1882,  the  school  was  divided.  Rev.  John  W.  McFarland  taking  the  boys' 
and  Miss  Dunbar  the  girls'  department.  In  September,  1882,  Miss  Kate  A.  Rankin 
was  placed  in  charge  of  the  industrial  department. 

On  the  9th  of  February,  1683,  the  school  buildings  were  burned  to  the  ground,  and 
the  school  again  found  shelter  in  the  old  military  hospital.  „~~C 

In  the  .summer  of  lfc84  the  school  teachers  and  pupils  were  removed  to  Sitka. 


In  the  winter  of  1877-78  I  secured  the  appointment  of  Rev.  John  G.  Brady  for 
Sitka,  and  in  April,  1878,  a  .school  was  opened  by  Mr.  Brady  and  Miss  Fannie  E.  Kel- 
logg. In  December,  through  a  combination  of  circumstances,  it  was  discontinued. 
In  the  spring  of  1880  Miss  Olinda  Austin  was  sent  oiit  from  New  York  City,  and  re- 
opened the  school  April  5,  in  one  of  the  rooms  of  the  guard-house,  with  103  children 
present.  This  number  increased  to  130.  Then  some  of  the  parents  applied  for  ad- 
mission, but  could  not  be  received,  as  the  room  wotild  not  hold  any  more.  Miss  Aus- 
tin received  the  support  and  substantial  assistance  of  Captain  Beardslee,  then  in 
command  of  the  United  States  ship  Jamestown.  Lieutenant  Simonds,  and  other  naval 
officers,  who  proved  themselves  warm  friends  of  the  enterprise.  In  July  the  school 
was  moved  to  the  old  hospital  building. 

In  November  some  of  the  boys  applied  to  the  teacher  for  permission  to  live  at  the 
school-house.  At  home  there  was  so  much  drinking,  talking,  and  carousing  that 
they  could  not  study.  The  teacher  .said  she  had  no  accommodations,  bedding,  or  food 
for  them.  But  they  were  so  much  in  earnest  that  they  said  they  would  provide  for 
themselves.  Upon  receiving  permission,  seven  Indian  boys,  thirteen  and  fourteen 
years  of  age,  bringing  a  blanket  each  and  a  piece  of  tin  for  a  looking-glass,  voluntarily 
left  their  homes  and  took  up  their  abode  in  a  vacant  room  of  one  of  the  Government 
btiildings.  Thus  commenced  the  boarding  department  of  the  Sitka  school.  Soon 
other  boys  joined  them.  One  was  a  boy  who  had  been  taken  out  to  be  shot  as  a 
witch,  but  was  rescued  by  the  officers  of  the  Jamestown  and  placed  in  the  school. 
Capt.  Henry  Glass,  who  succeeded  Captain  Beardslee  in  command  of  the  Jamestown, 
from  the  first,  with  his  officers,  took  a  deep  intere.st  in  the  school.  As  he  has  had 
opportunity  he  secured  boys  from  distant  tribes  and  placed  them  in  the  school. 

In  February,  1881.  Captain  Glass  established  a  rule  compelling  the  attendance  of 
the  Indian  children  upon  the  day  school,  which  was  a  move  in  the  right  direction  and 
has  worked  admirably.  He  first  caused  the  Indian  village  to  be  cleaned  up,  ditches 
dug  around  each  house  for  drainage,  and  the  houses  whitewashed.  These  sanitary 
regulations  greatly  lessened  the  sickness  and  death-rate  among  them.  He  then  caused 
the  houses  to  be  numbered,  and  an  accurate  census  taken  of  the  inmates — adults  and 
children.  He  then  caused  a  label  to  be  made  of  tin  for  each  child,  which  was  tied 
around  the  neck  of  the  child,  with  his  or  her  number  and  the  number  of  the  house 
on  it,  so  that  if  a  child  was  found  on  the  street  during  school  hours  the  Indian  police- 
man was  under  orders  to  take  the  numbers  on  the  labels  and  report  them,  or  the 
teacher  each  day  would  report  that  such  numbers  from  such  houses  were  absent  that 
day.  The  following  morning  the  head  Indian  of  the  house  to  which  the  absentee 
belonged  was  summoned  to  appear  and  answer  for  the  absence  of  the  child.  If  the 
child  was  willfully  absent,  the  head  man  was  fined  or  imprisoned.  A  few  cases  of  fine 
were  sufficient.  As  soon  as  they  found  the  captain  in  earnest,  the  children  were  all 
in  school. 

In  April  Mr.  Alonzo  E.  Austin  was  api)ointed  principal  of  the  school  and  Mrs.  Aus- 
tin was  appointed  matron. 

On  the  24th  of  January,  1882,  the  old  Russian  log  hospital  building  that  sheltered 
the  school  was  burned,  and  the  pupils  w  ere  placed  in  an  abandoned  Government  stable, 
which  was  roughly  fitted  up  for  them. 


S-     2 


.Itf""- 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 


83 


III  the  8uu]iiitr  of  Ihat  year,  liy  the  advice  df  the  naval  couiniaiider,  the  colleetorof 
custoiMs,  and  a  lew  of  the  leading  citizens,  I  selected  a  tiact  of  land  outside  the  village 
as  a  peiuianeur  location  for  the  school,  and  erected  "'Anstiu  Hall,"'  a  large,  two-story 
buikiiug,  100  by  50  leet  in  size.  Mr.  Walter  B.  Styles  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  in- 
dustrial department. 

NEW'   BUILDINCiS,  ETC. 

During  the  fall  and  winter  of  lc'-t-4  the  following  hnildings  weie  erected :  Central 
Hall,  a  two-story  fianie  building,  130  by  50  feet  in  size;  this  building  contains  school 
rooms,  dining  hall  and  kitchens  both  for  sihool  and  teachers'  mess,  sewing  rooms, 
girls'  dormitory,  teachers'  rooms,  &c.;  it  was  occupied  January  1,  lSC;5.  A  laundry, 
Que  and  one- half  story,  20  by  i:5  h  et ;  a  bakery,  one  and  one-half  story,  14  by  '25  feet ; 
and  a  wagon-shed,  3u  by  10  feet. 

Iron  pipes  have  been  laid  for  half  a  mile  from  the  buildings  to  Indian  Kiver,  fur- 
nishing the  institution  with  an  abundant  supply  of  pure  soft  water. 

EMPLOYES. 

Sheldon  .Jackson  (July,  18b'4,  to  March,  1&'?5),  superintendent. 

A.  J.  Davis  (March  to  June),  superintendent. 

"William  A.  Kelly  (June),  superinteudent. 

Rev.  Alonzo  E.  Anstin,  assistant  superintendent  and  chaplain. 

John  Walker  (Indian,  July  to  March),  industrial  teacher. 

Thomas  Heaton  (March  to  June),  industrial  teacher. 

Mrs.  A.  E.  Austin,  matron  boys'  department. 

Mrs.  A.  E.  McFarland,  matrou  girls'  department. 

Miss  Kate  A.  Rankin,  sewing  department. 

Miss  Margaret  Dauphin,  laundry  and  kitclien. 

Miss  R.  A.  Kelsey,  school-room. 

W.  D.  McLeod,  machinist. 

M.  Cragiu,  watchman  and  assistant. 

David  Jackson  (native),  boot  and  shoe  department. 

Sergeant  Myers,  U.  S.  N.,  volunteer  drill  master. 

There  have  been  in  connection  with  the  school  during  the  year  47  boys  and  SJO  girls, 
making  a  total  attendance  of  137. 

The  average  age  of  the  boys  has  been  14  years  and  of  the  girls  lOit. 

There  have  been  one  marriage  and  three  deaths.  One  of  the  girls  married  the  inter- 
preter of  the  Takoo  -Mission.  A  boy  and  a  girl  have  died  of  consumption  and  a  girl  of 
pneumonia.  This  was  the  first  death  in  the  boys'  department  during  the  five  years' 
histoiy  of  the  school. 

The  several  tribes  are  represented  as  follows : 


Tribe. 

Boys. 

Girls. 

Total. 

22 

16 

3 

1 
4 

12 

10 

10 

1 

3 

3 

30 

(> 

5 

•     3 

1 

3 

1 

3 

34 

26 

13 

2 

7 

3 

30 

Chilkat                         

1 

7 

Takoo                                                                                          

5 

3 

1 

Stick                                                                              

3 

Hydah                                                                     ...             

1 

2 

Total                                                  

47 

90 

137 

On  account  of  causes  hereafter  mentioned  the  school  closes  the  year  with  only  26 
boys  and  33  girls.  Total  present  attendance,  .5it.  All  the  pupils  are  required  to  be 
in  the  school-room  half  the  day  and  the  work-rooms  the  other  half. 


In  the  school-rooms  they  pursue  the  studies  usual  to  the  primary  and  intermediate 
grades,  and  are   making  fair  progress  when  it  is  considered  that  their  studies  are  in, 


84  EDUCATION    IN   ALASKA. 

to  them,  a  foreign  language.  An  analogous  position  would  be  to  attempt  to  instruct 
the  children  of  New  York  or  Massachusetts  in  arithmetic,  geography,  grammar,  &c., 
through  the  medium  of  Chinese  teachers  and  text-books.  Without  auy  legal  power 
on  the  part  of  the  teachers  or  public  sentiment  among  the  parents,  to  hold  the  chil- 
dren, and  with  the  direct  or  indirect  opposition  of  several  of  the  Government  officials, 
it  has  been  very  difficult  to  exercise  the  authority  necessary  to  secure  the  best  results 
in  sjieaking  English. 

INDUSTRIAL. 

All  the  manual  labor  of  the  institution  is  performed  by  the  children  themselves  un- 
der the  supervision  and  instruction  of  the  teachers.  There  is  not  a  hired  servant 
about  the  establishment.  The  older  and  more  advanced  girls  iu  charge  of  the  divi- 
sions and  of  the  teachers'  kitchen  are  paid  a  small  compensation  ;  also  the  older  boys 
in  the  carpenter  shop. 

THE  GIRLS. 

The  girls  are  divided  into  three  classes  and  serve  iu  rotation  in  each  of  the  three 
divisions. 

(1)  Kitchen  and  (Unhu/  department. — Much  of  the  time  and  strength  of  this  depart- 
ment is  taken  up  in  the  necessary  work  of  providing  the  daily  meals.  More  and  more 
attention  will,  however,  be  given  to  training  the  pupils  in  the  best  method  of  cooking 
meats,  fish,  and  vegetables,  the  preparation  of  corned,  smoked,  and  pickled  meats 
and  fish;  the  drying  and  preserving  of  berries  ;  the  care  of  winter  vegetables  ;  making 
yeast  and  baking  bread;  the  care  of  milk;  butter  and  cheese  making;  the  proper 
washing  of  dishes  and  care  of  kitchen  utensils,  and  the  care  of  store-room  and  pantry  ; 
also  the  setting,  waiting  upon,  and  clearing  off  of  tables  ;  the  care  of  knives,  forks, 
spoons,  &c. 

(2)  The  dormitory  and  seicin;/  department. — In  the  dormitory^,  halls,  &c.,  the  girls 
attend  to  the  sweeping  and  scrubbing  of  doors,  dusting,  and  orderly  arrangement  of 
furniture;  making  of  beds;  care  of  slops;  simple  adornment  of  walls;  cleaning  and 
care  of  lamps:  care  of  clothes,  closets,  bedding,  &c.  As  they  have  nothing  of  this 
in  their  native  homes  it  is  a  long  step  forward  in  their  civilization.  In  the  sewing 
department  they  are  taught  the  usual  cutting  and  making  of  clothes;  the  changing, 
mending,  and  patching  of  garments  ;  knitting  and  darning ;  practice  with  the  sewing 
machine,  &c.  They  are  fond  of  and  excel  in  sewing  and  knitting,  and  it  is  doubtful 
whether  any  equal  number  of  white  girls  gathered  promiscuously  into  a  school  would 
do  as  well. 

(3)  The  laundry  department. — In  addition  to  the  usual  weekly  washing  and  ironing 
of  the  clothes,  bedding,  &c.,  of  the  pupils,  special  instruction  will  be  given  in  the 
manufacture  of  lye  from  wood  ashes,  of  soft-soap  and  starch. 

THE  BOYS. 

The  boys  in  a  general  way  ai'e  divided  into  two  classes  for  work.  The  smaller  ones 
cut  and  carry  in  the  fire-wood,  keep  the  grounds  cleaned  up,  and  do  the  chores  gen- 
erally. The  larger  ones  cut  and  raft  the  logs  for  fire-wood,  draw  the  seine  when  fish- 
ing, and  work  in  the  carpenter-shop.  Much  of  the  work  of  the  past  year,  of  extract- 
ing stumps,  grading  and  ditching  land,  rafting  logs  and  lumber,  procuring  and  carry- 
ing rock  for  foundations  and  lumber  for  the  buildings  from  the  beach  (there  are  no 
horses  or  oxen  here)  has  been  done  by  the  boys  of  the  school.  They  also  did  much  of 
the  work  of  erecting  the  main  central  building  of  the  institution — a  house  two  and 
a  half  stories  high,  130  feet  long,  and  50  feet  wide.  This  was  done  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  head  or  "boss"  carpenter,  John  Walker,  himself  a  full-blooded  Indian, 
educated  at  the  Forest  Grove  Indian  School. 

Having  no  roads  or  appliances  for  getting  logs  out  of  the  woods,  the  custom  of  the 
country  is  to  find  a  suitable  tree  so  near  the  ocean  shore  that,  when  cut,  it  will  fall 
into  the  water.  The  logs  are  lashed  together,  and  when  the  tide  is  in  the  right  direction 
floated  to  their  destination.  The  available  trees  near  to  Sitka  having  been  cut  off, 
the  schoolboys  are  compelled  to  go  from  8  to  12  miles  away  for  their  annual  supply 
of  fire-wood.  This  adds  greatly  to  the  fatigue  aud  danger  of  the  work.  Our  boats 
have  been  driven  ashore,  and  occasionally  a  raft  scattered  by  a  storm,  but  so  far  no 
lives  have  been  lost,  and  the  boys  have  gained  practice  in  seamanship. 

FISHERIES,  ETC. 

A  seine  has  been  provided  aud  the  boys  have  packed  thirty-four  barrels  of  choice 
salmon  for  the  use  of  the  school.     As  fish  is  one  of  the  chief  commercial  commodi- 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  85 

ties  of  the  conntry,  aud  one  whicli  will  fnrnisli  tlie  natives  with  au  ample  and  relia- 
ble means  of  support,  special  attention  will  be  given  to  it.  The  boys  will  he  instructed 
in  the  names,  habits,  and  commercial  value  of  the  various  kinds  of  tish  in  their  waters; 
improved  methods  of  taking  and  preparing  them  for  market ;  the  making  and  mend- 
ing of  nets;  the  management  and  repair  of  boats;  rope-splicing  and  sail-making; 
swimming  ;  naval  drill ;  together  with  instruction  concerning  the  tides  and  the  use 
of  the  compass. 

CARPENTER  SHOP. 

The  erection  of  buildings  for  the  institution  duriug  the  past  year  has  given  a  special 
impetus  to  wood  work.  The  native  races  on  this  coast  are  noted  for  their  skill  in  the 
manufacture  of  canoes,  and  carving  in  wood,  stone,  and  metals,  so  that  the  boys  very 
readily  and  quickly  become  skillful  in  the  use  of  tools.  As  an  encouragement  to  the 
boys,  the  school  has  very  properly  been  given  the  contract  of  making  the  school  fur- 
niture for  all  the  GoAernment  schools  in  Alaska.  During  the  coming  year  some  atten- 
tion will  be  given  to  the  manufacture  of  household  furniture.  It  is  also  hoped  that 
a  cooper-shop  may  be  opened  to  provide  barrels  and  casks  for  the  salting  of  tish. 

AGRICULTURAL  DEPARTMENT. 

An  injunction  having  been  served  on  the  officers  of  the  school,  through  the  malice 
ol  United  States  District  Attorney  Haskett  and  Judge  McAllister,  preventing  work 
on  the  school  property  at  the  time  the  vegetable  garden  should  have  been  planted, 
but  little  has  been  raised  this  season.  In  previous  seasons  the  school  garden  has  been 
the  most  flourishing  one  in  the  place.  Since  the  dissolving  of  the  injunction  by  the 
court,  considerable  has  been  done  in  removing  stumps,  and  grading  and  ditching  land. 
It  would  be  well  if  the  Government  would  set  apart  a  siiecial  sum  for  carrying  on, 
in  connection  with  the  school,  of  an 

EXPERIMENTAL   FARM. 

There  is  a  wide  diversity  of  views  concerning  the  agricultural  and  horticultural 
capabilities  of  this  region,  and  necessarily  great  ignorance.  The  early  Russian  set- 
tlers were  here  for  furs,  and  the  more  recent  Americans  for  trading  and  mining.  No 
systematic  eftbrt  intelligently  prosecuted  has  been  made  to  ascertain  what  can  or 
cannot  be  raised  to  advantage.  The  industrial  and  training  school  of  this  distant 
and  but  little  known  section  of  the  United  States  furnishes  a  basis  for  a  department 
that  shall  make  careful  experiments  extending  over  a  term  of  years  to  ascertain  the 
vegetables,  grains,  grasses,  berries,  and  small  fruits,  apples  and  larger  fruits,  trees, 
flowers,  &c.,  best  adapted  to  the  country;  the  best  methods  of  cultivating,  gather- 
ing, and  curing  the  same;  tree  planting,  and  grafting  of  fruit  trees;  the  develop- 
ment of  the  wild  cranberry;  cattle,  hog,  and  poultry  raising;  and  butter  and  cheese 
making.  If  the  Government  will  determine  what  can  be  done  in  this  direction,  both 
settlers  and  the  natives  will  utilize  the  information  gained.  Such  a  course  will  add 
both  to  the  wealth  of  the  country  and  the  comfort  of  the  people. 

BOOT   AND   SHOE   SHOP. 

No  systematic  training  has  yet  been  given  in  this  important  department,  although 
considerable  has  been  done  in  theway  of  repairing  shoes.  More  and  more  prominence 
will  be  given  this  department  as  the  work  develops. 

HOSPITAL  DEPARTMENT. 

As  the  work  of  the  school  becomes  more  systematized,  special  instruction  will  be 
given  both  sexes  in  physiology,  the  laws  of  health,  common  sanitary  regulations, 
simple  remedies,  treatment  of  accidents  (particularly  cuts  and  gunshot  wounds), 
treatment  of  persons  rescued  from  drowning;  cooking  for,  waiting  upon,  and  nursing 
the  sick. 

OFFICIAL   INTERFERENCE   AND  THE   RESULTS. 

The  native  races  upon  this  coast  are  a  docile  people  and  easily  Influeuced  by  those 
in  authority. 

While  the  country  was  under  naval  rule  Captains  Glass,  Beardslee,  Lull,  and  others 
gave  their  influence  in  favor  of  the  school,  and  the  school  room  was  crowded  with 
pupils. 


86  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

lu  the  fall  of  18S4  the  naval  rule  was  siiperseded  by  tliat  of  the  civil  goverument. 

As  the  seciiriQg  of  the  civil  govenuneut  was  largely  due  to  the  friends  of  the  school 
(Report  of  Coiuuiissiouer  of  Education  for  1882-'d3'),  they  had  a  right  to  expect 
the  friendly  co-operation  of  the  new  officials.  Further,  the  native  races  compose 
fifteen-sixteenths  of  the  ])opulation  to  be  cared  for,  and  have  a  claim  upon  the 
attention  of  the  officers.  Still  further,  Congress  had  voted  an  appropriation  for  the 
education  of  these  ])eople,  and  the  most  important  services  the  ofiQcei's  could  render 
the  Government  and  the  counti'y  was  to  throw  their  whole  official  iufiuence  in  favor 
of  the  education  of  the  native  races  up  to  American  citizenship.  Had  they  done  this 
— had  thoy  followed  the  example  of  the  na/al  commanders  that  had  preceded  them, 
and  made  the  natives  feel  that  the  officers  really  desired  the  regular  attendance  of 
the  children  at  school — all  of  the  native  scliools  would  have  continued  to  make  prog- 
ress and  produce  results  satisfactory  to  the  Government. 

But,  very  strangely  and  unexpectedly  Governor  Kinkead  (the  few  weeks  he  spent 
in  Alaska  of  the  year  he  was  governor),  United  States  Judge  Ward  McAllister,  jr. , 
United  States  Marshal  Hillyer,  and  Dejiuty  Marshal  Sullivan,  directly  or  indirectly 
threw  their  influence  against  the  schools,  and  the  native  parents  soon  learned  that 
the  officers  did  not  care  whether  they  sent  their  children  to  school  or  not.  The  most 
open  opposition,  however,  came  from  United  States  District  Attorney  E.  W.  Haskett. 

Secretly  pushed  forward  by  others,  as  it  is  believed,  he  sought  to  disturb  the  school 
in  the  occupancy  of  the  land  upon  which  are  situated  the  school  buildings  and  im- 
provements. 

Following  the  precedent  made  in  the  organization  of  the  Territory  of  Oregon,  and 
afterwards  that  of  Washington,  Congress  in  the  organic  act  providing  a  civil  govern- 
ment for  Alaska  enacted  as  follows: 

And  provided  also,  That  the  land,  not  exceeding  640  acres,  at  any  station  now  occu- 
pied as  missionary  stations  among  the  Indian  tribes  in  said  section,  with  the  im- 
l^rovements  thereon  erected  by  or  for  snch  societies,  shall  be  continued  in  the  occu- 
pancy of  the  several  religious  societies  to  which  said  missionary  stations  respectively 
belong  until  action  by  Congress. 

Mr.  Haskett,  working  upou  the  race  prejudice  of  the  Russian  Creole  s,  made  them 
believe  that  the  Government  was  giving  to  the  Indians  lauds  that  their  children 
would  some  day  need.  This  resulted  in  two  or  three  so-called  "citizens'  meetings," 
mainly  composed  of  Creoles,  at  which  resolutions  were  adopted  and  sent  to  Washing- 
ton protesting  against  the  industrial  school  being  allowed  the  use  of  the  land  re- 
served by  Congress  for  it.  At  these  meetings  the  United  States  district  attorney  was 
the  chief  speaker,  and  in  his  incendiary  harangues  assured  them  that  the  school  had 
no  right  to  the  land  where  its  buildings  are,  and  that  if  any  Russian  wanted  any  of 
the  land  claimed  by  the  school  all  he  had  to  do  was  to  go  and  occupy  it.  As  a  con- 
sequence one  of  the  simple-minded  Creoles  went  into  tlie  frout  yard  of  the  school, 
staked  out  the  corners  of  a  house,  and  commenced  getting  out  the.  foundations.  Sev- 
eral others  were  preparing  to  do  the  same  thing. 

This  necessitated  the  immediate  construction  of  a  fence  in  front  of  the  school 
grounds.  Upon  the  setting  of  the  posts,  Mr.  Haskett  encouraged  the.  Creoles  to  make 
a  complaint  that  the  school  was  obstructing  a  public  highway,  because  the  fence  was 
not  30  feet  from  the  center  of  a  road  used  as  a  public  highway,  but  which  has  no 
legal  status  as  such.  The  fence  was  the  same  distance  from  the  road  as  every  other 
fence  on  it,  and  was  built  in  uniformity  with  them.  Through  misrepresentations  to 
the  court  an  injunction  was  secured  against  all  the  officers  and  employes  of  the 
school  forbidding  the  completion  of  the  fence,  the  clearing  out  of  underbrush  and 
grading  of  the  land,  construction  of  walks,  or  even  any  work  upon  the  school  build- 
ings themselves. 

At  the  Maj'  term  of  court  the  injunction  was  dissolved,  on  a  demurrer  to  the  peti- 
tion, on  the  ground  that  the  complainants  were  not  adjoining  property  holders  and 
had  no  legal  right  to  complain.- 

The  same  result  would  have  been  reached  if  the  case  had  been  tried  on  its  merits, 
as  all  the  allegations  in  the  complaint  were  untrue. 

Ujion  the  acqusition  of  Alaska  in  18(17,  a  company  of  United  States  troops  was  sta- 
tioned at  Sitka.  In  procuring  their  fuel  they  first  cut  the  trees  accessible  from  the 
beach.  When  those  nearest  to  the  beach  were  gone,  they  naturally  cut  those  adjoin- 
ing, all  the  time  penetrating  farther  into  the  woods,  and  farther  from  the  beach. 
After  the  first  rise  of  ground  at  the  beach  the  laud  is  swampy,  and  in  order  to  get 
out  the  firewood  the  troops  made  a  temporary  corduroy  road.  The  farther  they 
penetrated  the  forest  for  wood  the  longer  the  road  grew,  until,  when  the  troops  were 
withdrawn  in  1877,  it  was  nearly  half  a  mile  long.  After  the  departure  of  the  sol- 
diers the  road  was  practically  abandoned.  It  commences  on  the  beach  and  abruptly 
terminates  in  the  woods.  Its  commencement,  ending,  and  whole  course  is  on  the 
land  reserved  by  Congress  for  the  school. 


'  See  Appendix  A. 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  87 

In  order  to  inclose  the  school  buildiuijs  and  secure  better  discii)line,  the  superia- 
teudent  of  the  schools  needed  to  fence  across  this  former  wood  road.  This  he  had  a  legal 
right  to  do,  but  he  refrained  from  doing  so  until  the  school  constructed  a  better  road 
at  the  side  of  the  school  grounds  to  take  the  place  of  the  former  wood  road  through 
them.  The  new  road  is  better  and  more  convenient  to  the  village  than  the  old  one, 
aud  when  extended  will  make  a  straight  street  from  the  beach  to  the  cemetery.  (See 
the  record  of  the  court  on  the  change  of  roads,  page  79.)  The  cemetery  has  no  road 
to  it,  but  is  reached  l)y  a  trail  through  a  swamp  from  the  wood  road. 

Any  other  community  would  cordially  acquiesce  in  this  change,  better  both  for  the 
school  and  the  general  public,  but  here,  througli  the  feeling  created  by  District  Attor- 
ney Haskett,  the  change  is  met  with  the  threat  of  mob  violence. 

The  culmination  of  these  difficulties  occurred  in  March  last. 

Upon  the  11th  of  March  the  United  States  monthly  mail  steamer  arrived,  bringing 
an  Indian  woman  of  questionable  character,  who  claimed  possession  of  one  of  the 
girls  in  the  school.  The  girl  is  a  half-breed,  about  twelve  to  fourteen  years  of  age, 
and  an  orphan.  She  is  a  good  English  scholar  and  quite  attractive  in  her  personal 
appearance.  The  woman  claimed  to  be  a  relative  (I  believe  a  cousin).  She  liad  no 
papers  of  gnardianship  or  any  proof  to  support  her  claim;  nor  was  she  the  guardian 
of  the  girl  even  according  to  Indian  customs.  Tlie  white  father  had  left  his  illegit- 
imate child  and  her  mother.  The  mother  died.  On  her  dying  bed,  as  I  was  informed 
and  believe,  she  gave  the  child  to  Mrs.  A.  R.  McFarland,  superintendent  of  the  Girla' 
School  and  Home  at  Fort  Wrangell,  to  bring  up  in  that  school.  Aud  after  the  death 
of  the  mother  the  child  was  taken  from  her  mother's  house  to  Mrs.  McFarland's.  If 
any  one  was  entitled  to  be  considered  the  legal  guardian  of  the  child,  in  a  country 
wliere,  at  the  time,  there  was  no  law  applicable  to  such  a  case,  it  was  Mrs.  McFar- 
land. The  officers  of  the  school  very  properly  refused  to  let  the  child  go.  The  woman 
then,  at  the  instigation  and  with  the  assistance  of  some  evil-disposed  white  men, 
took  out  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus.  A  special  term  of  court  was  held  at  8  o'clock  in 
the  evening.  The  officers  of  the  school  were  refused  a  hearing,*  and  the  girl  was 
given  into  the  custody  of  the  woman. 

Last  winter  an  Indian  sorcerer  and  his  wife  brought  their  daughter,  about  twelve 
years  of  age,  aud  placed  her  iu  the  school  for  live  years.  A  short  time  afterwards, 
having  an  opportunity  of  selling  her  to  some  visiting  Indians,  they  came  and  asked 
to  lake  her  out  of  the  school.  This  was  refused  by  the  superintendent.  They  then 
offered  to  send  her  brother  iu  her  place.  The  superintendent  replied  that  he  would 
take  the  boy  if  they  wished,  but  would  retain  the  girl.  They  then  oftered  him  §10  iu 
money  if  he  would  let  the  girl  go.  Failing  to  procure  her,  they  hired  two  Indians  to 
steal  her.  These  men  were  concealed  in  the  woods  near  by,  a  week  before  they  were 
dLscovered  and  captured.  Whiln  these  events  were  transpiring  the  first  girl  had  been 
taken  from  the  school  on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus.  Encouraged  bj'  this,  the  same  white 
men  as  iu  the  tirst  case  assisted  the  sorcerer  in  securing  a  writ,  aud  the  girl  was  pro- 
duced in  court.     Upou  this  occasion  the  judge  ruled — 

(1)  That  the  verbal  contract  of  the  Indian  parents  in  placing  their  child  in  school 
was  not  binding. 

(2)  That  as  a  white  man  cannot  make  a  contract  with  au  Indian  a  written  contract 
would  be  illegal. 

(:{)  That  if  the  officers  of  the  school  attempted  to  restrain  the  children  from  run- 
uiug  away  or  leaving  whenever  they  wished,  they  would  be  liable  to  fine  aud  impris- 
onment. 

Judge  Dawne,  who  succeeded  Mr.  McAllister  as  U.  S.  .judge  of  Alaska,  upon  open- 
ing his  court  took  an  early  opportunity  of  reversing  these  decisions,  aud  decided  that 
the  natives  of  Southeast  Alaska  were  not  Indians;  that  they  could  make  contracts, 
sue  aud  be  sued,  aud  do  whatever  any  one  else  could  do  before  the  law. 

The  decisions  of  Judge  McAllister  left  the  officers  powerless  to  maintain  discipline. 
If  a  child  failed  iu  his  lessons,  (juarreled  with  his  schoolmates,  neglected  his  work, 
or  transgressed  the  rules  of  the  school,  aud  any  attempt  was  made  to  correct  him,  in 
a  fit  of  anger  or  sulkiness  he  could  leave  the  school.  The  court  had  thrown  the  doors 
wide  open,  and  evil-disposed  men  took  special  pains  to  inform  the  natives  aud  encour- 
age them  to  remove  their  children  from  the  school. 

To  add  to  the  difficulties  of  the  situation,  about  that  time  one  of  the  school  girla 
died  of  pneumonia.  She  had  careful  uuising  aud  every  needed  attention,  even  to  the 
medical  attendance  of  the  surgeon  on  the  United  States  man-of-war,  the  Pinta.  After 
the  burial  some  one  started  the  story  that  the  malron  had  bewitched  the  girl  aud 
caused  her  death.  Soon  there  was  an  excited  mob  at  the  school  clamoring  to  take 
their  children  home  for  fear  the  matron  would  kill  them  also.  If  the  civil  officers 
had  then  used  their  iulinence  with  tbe  Indians  to  quiet  the  excitement  and  keep  the 
children  in  school,  they  would  have  succeeded,  and  both  parents  and  children  would 
have  been  thankful  after  it  was  all  over.     On  the  contrary,  the  marshal,  the  iuter- 

*  See  testimony  of  A.  J.  Davis,  Appendix  L. 


88  EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA. 

preter,  and  especially  the  United  States  district  attorney,  helped  the  matter  along, 
so  that,  through  their  influence  and  the  superstitious  fear  of  the  Indians,  in  a  few 
days  forty-seven  children  were  taken  out  of  school  and  remanded  back  to  the  filth, 
superstition,  degradation,  and  vice  of  their  native  condition. 

Among  those  removed  from  the  school  was  a  girl  seventeen  years  of  age  who  had 
been  sold  into  prostitution  by  her  own  mother.  In  some  way  she  had  escaped  and 
found  both  an  asylum  and  a  home  in  the  school,  but  now  she  was  turned  loose  to 
'destruction. 

Another  girl,  of  fifteen,  and  her  sister  ten  years  of  age  had  been  picked  up  on  the 
beach  at  a  mining  camp.  They  were  without  friends  or  home,  almost  without  cloth- 
ing, and  in  a  starving  condition.  Through  neglect  and  cruel  treatment,  the  younger 
one  was  almost  blind.  These  orphan  sisters  were  taken  into  the  school,  fed,  clothed, 
and  kindly  cared  for.  Medical  attendance  was  provided  and  the  blind  one  restored 
to  sight.  The  sisters  were  making  fair  progress  when  the  break  came  and  they  were 
taken  in  charge  by  an  aunt.  The  elder  one  was  sent  into  prostitution,  and  the  aunt 
is  living  off  the  wages  of  the  child's  shame.  The  younger  one,  in  a  few  days,  escaped 
from  her  relatives  and  returned  to  the  school.  When  her  aunt  came  for  her  she  clung 
to  one  of  the  lady  teachers  and  had  to  be  taken  away  by  force.  Again  she  returned 
to  the  school  and  again  was  torn  away.  She  returned  the  third  time.  It  seemed  so 
inhuman  and  outrageous  to  force  the  poor  child  into  a  life  that  she  was  making  such 
desperate  etibrts  to  escape  that  the  officers  of  the  school  refused  to  let  her  relatives 
have  her,  preferring  that,  if  she  must  be  taken  away,  the  responsibility  should  rest 
upon  the  court. 

Another  girl,  of  fourteen,  when  about  to  be  sold  into  prostitution  for  the  benefit  of 
a  distant  relative,  escaped  from  her  grandmother,  who  was  guarding  her,  and  came 
to  the  school.  As  a  result  of  the  decision  of  the  court,  she,  too,  was  remanded  back 
to  the  care  of  her  heathen  relatives,  and  has  been  lost  to  a  virtuous  life. 

Another,  a  girl  of  about  seventeen,  was  being  sold  into  prostitution  by  her  step- 
mother and  aunt.  The  two  women,  quarreling  over  the  division  of  the  blood  money, 
came  to  settle  the  dispute  before  Mr.  A.  T.  Lewis,  clerk  of  the  court.  Mr.  Lewis, 
whose  influence  is  on  the  side  of  humanity  and  the  school,  took  the  girl  from  her  un- 
natural protectors,  and  placed  her  in  the  school.  She,  too,  has  gone  back  to  her 
former  abode  of  cruelty. 

Some  three  years  ago,  a  little  girl  was  accused  of  witchcraft.  The  tribe  bound  her 
with  a  rope.  A  stalwart  chief,  holding  one  end  of  the  rope,  walked  in  advance,  drag- 
ging the  child  after  him,  while  another  came  behind  holding  the  other  end  of  the 
rope.  These  men  were  the  admiration  of  the  tribe  for  their  bravery  in  holding  be- 
tween them  a  puny,  starved  girl  of  teu.  She  was  rescued  by  Professor  Austin,  who 
was  in  charge  of  the  school,  and  given  a  home.  During  the  troubles  she  was  returned 
to  the  tribe,  and  may  yet  be  tortured  to  death  as  a  witch. 

Another  was  the  slave  of  a  prominent  chief.  After  his  death  his  two  widows 
treated  her  so  cruelly  that  she  ran  away,  and  was  found  hid  under  the  church.  She 
was  taken  into  the  school  and  furnished  protection  and  a  home.  A  man  that  married 
one  of  the  wido-^^s  claimed  her  as  his  property,  and  tried  to  get  possession  of  her,  but 
in  vain.  But  now  that  the  school  is  jjowerless  to  protect  the  orphan,  the  escaped 
slave,  and  the  helpless  child,  she  has  gone  out  from  under  its  care,  and  her  future  re- 
mains to  be  seen. 

Another,  to  prevent  being  married  to  her  stepfather  and  becoming  a  plural  wife 
with  her  own  mother,  ran  away  and  came  to  the  school.  I'or  a  long  time  she  did  not 
dare  visit  her  mother,  and  when  at  length  she  A^entured  to  visit  home,  they  locked 
her  up  in  a  room  to  keep  her.  After  some  days  she  again  escaped  and  returned  to  the 
school.  Now  under  the  hostile  influences  that  surrounded  the  school,  she  has  been 
led  away,  and  is  living  a  life  of  sin  in  a  mining  camp. 

And  thus  also  among  the  boys. 

One  had  been  sold  as  a  slave  twice  before  he  was  brought  to  the  school.  Another 
had  been  shot  as  a  slave  and  a  bullet  sent  crushing  through  his  shoulder.  Another 
had  been  tied  up  as  a  witch  and  kept  four  days  without  food,  when  he  was  rescued. 
Another  when  born  was  about  to  be  killed  by  his  parents  to  save  the  trouble  of  taking 
care  of  him.  A  neighboring  woman  took  pity  on  the  babe  and  removed  him  to  her 
own  house.  When  the  school  commenced  he  was  placed  in  it.  Many  others  had 
come  nnder  the  protection  of  the  school  through  trials  and  dangers.  They  were 
making  good  progress  in  books  and  industrial  pursuits,  and  advancing  in  the  ways  of 
civilization.  The  older  ones  were  looking  forward  to  the  erection  of  American  homes 
for  themselves,  when  the  break  came  and  the  work  was  greatly  set  back. 

Thus  an  institution,  established  at  great  expense,  supported  in  part  by  an  annual 
appropriation  of  Congress  and  equipped  to  do  a  good  work,  is  crippled,  and  the  pur- 
pose of  the  Government  to  civilize  the  natives  is  hindered  by  the  opposition  of  the 
officers  previously  named. 

For  seven  years  earnest  men  and  women,  exiled  from  friends  and  society  in  this 
far-off  land,  amid  many  hardships  and  privations,  have  toiled  to  overcome  the  preju- 


EDUCATION    IN    ALASKA.  89 

dices  of  the  natives  and  secure  their  children,  that  by  means  of  an  industrial  educa- 
tion they  may  be  lifted  out  of  the  degradation  of  their  fathers  into  respectable  citi- 
zenship. And  now  to  see  it  possible  for  United  States  officials  and  others  in  one 
month  to  take  forty-seven  children  out  of  an  industrial  school  strongly  emphasizes 
the  need  of  such  legislation  by  Congress  that  schools  supported  in  wlaole  or  in  part 
by  the  Government  shall  be  i^rotected  from  the  malice  of  evil-disposed  white  men  on 
the  one  hand,  and  the  whims  of  degraded  ignorant  parents  on  the  other. 

There  is  a  great  and  growing  work  to  be  done  by  this  institution,  but  in  order  to 
secure  the  best  results  it  is  necessary  to  have  some  law  by  which  the  children  can  be 
legally  held  for  a  sufficient  number  of  years  to  form  civilized  habits  of  thought,  work, 
and  life. 

Trusting  that  your  office  will  prepare  and  present  to  Congress  the  needed  legisla- 
tion, 

I  remain,  with  great  respect,  yours  truly, 

SHELDON  JACKSON, 
United  States  General  Agent  of  Education  in  Alaska. 

The  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs. 


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SEx.gi^  49  I 


INDEX. 


Page. 

Abaknakik 58 

Afognak 14 

Akiagaruute 64 

Alaska  Commercial  Company's  stations 55 

Alexander,  Fort '. 57 

Alexander  Archipelago 6 

Aleuts,  character  of 14 

Aleutian  district 9 

Apokachamute 61 

Area  of  Alaska 5 

Attn 5,15 

Auke  tribe IT 

Aurora  horealis ~ 

Aziavigamute 72 

Belkoffski 16 

Bethel 29 

Borka 16 

Bristol  Bay,  population  in 13 

Bureau  of  Education,  in  charge  of  Alaska  schools 42 

Burial  customs  of  Eskimo 60,69 

Canoes,  birch-bark -• 64 

Cape  Constantine 57 

Cape  Newenham 59 

Cape  Pierce 59 

Cape  Prince  of  Wales 12 

Children  removed  from  school  by  writ  of  habeas  corpus 87 

Chilkat  tribe 17 

Chlugachmute 68 

Climate 8 

Davis,  Prof.  A.  J.,  sworn  statement  of,  concerning  official  interference  witk 

the  schools 80 

Dioniede  Islands 12 

Dogs,  Eskimo 58,  66 

Education,  general  agent 4.3 

Education,  establishment  of  public  schools 22 

Educatiou  fund,  how  secured 38 

Education  by  Russians 14, 15, 19,20 

Education  by  Presbyterians 17, 18,21,81 

Education  by  Alaska  Commercial  Company ■: 45 

Education  by  others ' 20,  75 

Eskimo,  or  Innuit 11 

Eski  mo  beliefs .• 60 

Eskimo  burials 60, 69 

Eskimo  diet 61, 68 

Eskimo  fishing 62 

Eskimo  marriage 61,63 

Fort  Alexander = 57 

Fort  Reliance 54 

Fort  Wrangell 18,26,30,81 

Fort  Yukon 53 

General  agent  of  Education  in  Alaska 23,  43 

General  agent,  indorsement  by  National  Educational  Society  of 44 

General  agent,  transportation  of 32 

General  agent,  imprisonment  of 24 

Gilcbgik 73 

Glaciers 7 

91 


92  INDEX. 

Page. 

Good  News  Bay 58 

Government  for  Alaska 39 

Greek  Church  services 59 

Habeas  corpus,  writ  of,  for  removal  of  children  from  school 87 

Hagemelster  Island 59 

Haines  mission  school 17 

Haines  public  school 26, 36 

Hanegah  tribe 19 

Hartmann,  Rev.  J.  A. ,  explorations  of 29, 55 

Hoochinoo  tribe 18 

Hoonah  tribe 17 

Hoouah  schools 17,26,37 

Hydah 18 

Igagik 59 

Ikali  ulkhagamute 73 

Intoxication  on  the  Kuskokwim  unknown 69, 73 

Ingerachtshuk 73 

Inghakfuk 73 

lookhlagamute 64 

Islands 6 

lulukiak 64 

Jackson  mission  school 18 

Jackson  public  school 27,  36 

Juneau  public  school 25,  35 

Kadiak  Island 6 

Kadiak  population 13 

Kadiak  school 14, 27 

Kake  tribe 18 

Kalkhaganiute 64 

Kamleika,  or  rain  coat 67 

Karluk 14 

Katmai 14 

Kikchtachpit 74 

Kikkhlagamute .* 64 

Killisnoo  school 27 

King's  Islaud 13 

Kisiaumute 72 

Kivigalogamute 64 

Kolmakovsky 61, 65,  66 

Kot  zebue  Sound 12 

Kulluk  Bay 74 

Kuskokwagamute  .■ 61 

Kuskokwim  River 58,  59,  61 

Kuskokwim  River  population 13 

Kuskokwim  River  school  (Bethel) 29 

Lomavigamute 68 

Makalkah 71 

Mosquitoes 54, 61,  62, 66,  76, 71 

Mountains 6 

Mumtr^chagamute 70 

Mumtrekhlagamute 62 

Naghaiklilavigamute 68 

Napahaiagamute 62,  68 

Napaimute 66 

Napaskiachamute 68 

Napaskiagamute 62 

National  aid  in  Alaska 34 

National  Educational  Association,  resolution  of 44 

Nazan 15 

Nikolski 15 

Nuklukahyet 55 

Nuualiiguk 73 

Nunivak .57 

Nunivriak 73 

Nushagak 57,58 

Nushagak  River 57 

Nushagak,  contract  for  school  at 29 

Official  interference  with  schools 24, 79,  85 

Ogavigamute 64 


INDEX.  93 

Page. 

Old  Harbor 14 

Ookboganuite 65 

Orlo  va 14 

Point  Barrow 12 

Population 10 

Xatiouality  of,  not  Indian 10 

On  Arctic  region 11 

On  Bristol  Bay 13 

On  Cape  Prince  of  Wales 12 

Ou  Kotzebue  Sound 12 

On  Knskokwini  Eiver 1:1,  61 

Ou  Norton  Sound 13 

Ou  Nusliagak  River 58 

Ou  Yukon  River 13 

Porcupine  River 53,  55 

Portland fO 

Port  Simpson 81 

Pribiloff  Islands - 30 

Quiucbacbauiute 69 

Ramparts  of  tbe  Yukon 55 

Reliance,  Fort 54 

Religious  bodies,  co-operation  witb 34 

Rivers 7 

Saint  Elias  Mountain 7 

Saint  George  Island 15, 45 

Saint  Lawrence  Island 13 

Saint  Micbael 13 

Saint  Micbael  scbool 29 

Saint  Paul  Island 15,  45 

Salmon 57,58,  62 

Schools : 

Appointment  of  general  agent 23, 43 

At  Auke 17 

At  Taku 17 

Attendance,  summar v  of 37 

Buildings .' 32 

Bureau  of  Education  iu  cbarge  of 42 

Early  American,  at  Sitka 20,75 

Establishment  of  public 22 

Fnud  for,  how  secured 38 

Industrial  training 30 

Moral  training '. 31 

Obligatory  attendance 31 

Official  interference  with 24,79,  85 

Public,  at  Bethel 29,37 

Public,  at  Fort  Wrangell 26,36 

Public,  at  Haines 26, 36 

Public,  at  Hoouah 26,37 

Public,  at  Jackson 27,  36 

Public,  at  Juneau 25,35 

Public,  at  Killisnoo 27 

Public,  at  Nushagak  River 29 

Public,  at  Saint  Michael 29 

Public,  at  Sitka 25,  36 

Public,  at  Uualashka 28,  37 

Russian,  at  Kadiak 14 

Russian,  at  Sitka 19 

Russian,  at  Spruce  Island 14 

Russian,  at  Uualashka 15 

Seal  Islands 45 

Sitka  training,  annual  report 81 

S wineford,  extract  from  Governor's  report 44 

Seal  Islands 15,45 

Shipwreck  of  teacher 27 

Shishaldin  Volcano 6 

Shumagin  Islands 6 

Sims,  Rev.  V.  E.,  exploration  of,  on  Upper  Yukon 58 

Sitka  citizens'  school 20,  75 

Sitka  mission  school 21, 80 


94  INDEX. 

Page. 

Sitka  public  scliools 25,36,37 

Sitka  Russian  schools 20 

Sitka  tribe 19 

Spriu  <f  s 7 

Spruce  Islaud 14 

Stikine  tribe 18 

Suuset 58,60 

Supplies  for  a  cauoe  trip 68 

Taku  school 17 

Taku  tribe 17 

Tanaua  River 55 

Tattoo  marks 59,  61 

Teachers,  character  of 33 

Teachers'  institute 33 

Temperature 8 

Thliuget  people 17 

Tiuueli  people 16 

Togia  k  Bay 57 ,  59 

Togiak  River 57,  73 

Togiakamute 59 

Tougass  tribe 18 

Torgerseu,  Hans,  drowning  of •<i9 

Transportation  of  general  agent 32 

Transportation  of  school  supplies 33 

Ugavik 64 ,  67 

Uualashka 15, 56 

Unalashka  public  school 28, 37 

Uuga 16 

Uuimak  Island 57 

Venizali 66 

Volcanoes 6 

Walrus  Islands  59 

Weinlaud,  Rev.  William  H 29,55 

Women  well  treated  on  Kuskokwim  River 73 

Wood  Island 14 

Wraugell,  Fort 18,26,30,81 

Yukon  district S 

Yukon,  Fort 53 

Yukon  River 7, 28,  53 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Paga 

Typical  Eskimo  man ,11 

King's  Island  cave  dwelliags 13 

Saint  Paul  Village 15 

Hydah  lionse  and  totem  pole 18 

An  Alaskan  caiion '. .  18 

Sitka 22 

School-house  at  Haines |25 

School-house  at  Sitka 25 

Unalashka 28 

Saint  Michael 29 

Group  of  Eskimo  boys  and  girls,  uncivilized 34 

Kev.  J.  A.  Hartmann 55 

Eskimo  family,  uncivilized J62 

Eskimo  family,  civilized 62 

Eskimo  burial  monuments 64 

Di-y ing  fish 64 

Traveling  with  bidarka 68 

Eskimo  village 68 

Sitka  Bay 76 

Sitka  training-school 82 

Map  of  Alaska 89 

Map  of  Southeastern  Alaska 89 

95 

o 


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